In planta Activity of the Novel Copper Product HA + Cu(II) Based on a Biocompatible Drug Delivery System on Vine Physiology and Trials for the Control of Botryosphaeria Dieback

Abstract

The growing concerns on human and environment health are forcing the plant protection industry toward the formulation of more eco-sustainable plant protection products (PPP), both efficient and innovative in their approach to disease control. A large number of these innovative formulations now rely on a combination of pathogens antagonistic properties and stimulation of natural plant defense to pathogens. The formulation HA + Cu(II), in which copper is delivered to the plants by the drug-delivery molecule hydroxyapatite (HA), was found efficient against the grapevine pathogens Plasmopara viticola and Phaeoacremonium minimum and able to induce the host-plant defense system. We investigated the HA + Cu(II) impacts on grapevine physiology, both in uninfected and when infected by the Botryosphaeria dieback agents Diplodia seriata and Neofusicoccum parvum. This study of plant physiology and disease impact were addressed to evaluate both the HA + Cu(II) potential as a plant defense elicitor and its possible and future use as PPP in vineyard. Our results showed that HA + Cu(II) induced several key-defense genes without negatively affecting plant growth and photosynthetic activity. In addition, fungistatic effect on the two Botryosphaeriaceae at the in planta tested concentrations is reported. Altogether, our results obtained under controlled conditions fully support the potential of HA + Cu(II) as a promising PPP toward grapevine trunk diseases in vineyard.

Combining an HA + Cu (II) Site-Targeted Copper-Based Product with a Pruning Wound Protection Program to Prevent Infection with Lasiodiplodia spp. in Grapevine

“…Mondello et al [48] have also reported that LC2017 showed the same in vitro fungistatic effect on D. seriata and N. parvum as it was verified for our L. theobromae isolates. The same authors described as well, the ability of this formulation to activate GTD-related plant defense reactions [48]. Di Marco et al [73] also tested a copper formulation against P. chlamydospora and P. minimum, which revealed the ability to reduce conidial germination in in vitro assays but was not able to reduce P. chlamydospora colonization on young potted grapevines.…”

“…The copper formulation used (LC2017) has already shown both fungistatic and fungicidal effects in vitro and in planta against Phaeoacremonium minimum [46]. Mondello et al [48] have also reported that LC2017 showed the same in vitro fungistatic effect on D. seriata and N. parvum as it was verified for our L. theobromae isolates. The same authors described as well, the ability of this formulation to activate GTD-related plant defense reactions [48].…”

“…The great diversity of species currently associated with Botryosphaeria dieback, but also with all GTDs, combined with the intrinsic differences in hundreds of cultivars planted worldwide under different terroir conditions, makes the research for an effective management strategy to reduce the impact of GTDs an extremely difficult challenge. To this extent, in this work, we tried to integrate currently used products for pruning wound protection with the application of a site-targeted product based on a copper (II) compound (copper sulfate) and synthetic nanostructured particles of hydroxyapatite (HA) which have already shown interesting drug delivery properties in planta [46][47][48]72]. In our work, the application of this new site-targeted copper (II) formulation (LC2017), does not seem to greatly increase the efficacy of the pruning wound protection strategy.…”

“…The application of site-targeted fungicides to protect vascular tissues against GTD pathogen colonization has been recently investigated by several authors [44][45][46]. Lignin nanocarriers loaded with pyraclostrobin, as a targeted drug delivery system [45], phloem mobile derivative of fenpiclonil in combination with beneficial endophyte [44], and copper-based treatments, formulated with hydroxyapatite (HA) as co-adjuvant with innovative delivery properties [47,48] have shown promising results in controlling both esca and Botryosphaeria dieback pathogens. This last formulation has also shown an elicitation ability towards several genes related to plant defense [48].…”

“…Lignin nanocarriers loaded with pyraclostrobin, as a targeted drug delivery system [45], phloem mobile derivative of fenpiclonil in combination with beneficial endophyte [44], and copper-based treatments, formulated with hydroxyapatite (HA) as co-adjuvant with innovative delivery properties [47,48] have shown promising results in controlling both esca and Botryosphaeria dieback pathogens. This last formulation has also shown an elicitation ability towards several genes related to plant defense [48]. However, increasing consumer demands for reduced chemical use and growing restrictions on the use of synthetic pesticides have increased interest in the use of natural active ingredients such as biocontrol agents (BCAs).…”