Inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi and irrigation management shaped the bacterial and fungal communities and networks in vineyard soils

Abstract

Background: Vineyard-living microbiota play a relevant role in supporting grapevine health and adaptation to changing environments and determining the biological quality of soils that strongly influence the wine quality and characteristics. However, management practices may shape the abundance and interactions of bacteria and fungi in vineyard soils. We conducted this experiment to assess whether the vineyard soil microbiome was altered by different management practices with the use of biostimulants (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation vs. non-inoculated) and/or irrigation management (full irrigated vs. half irrigated). Results: Bacterial and fungal communities in vineyard soils were shaped by both time course and soil management (i.e. use of biostimulants or irrigation). Regarding alpha diversity, fungal communities were more responsive to treatments whereas changes on beta diversity were mainly recorded in the bacterial communities. Edaphic factors rarely influenced bacterial and fungal communities. Microbial network analyses suggested that the bacterial associations were weaker than the fungal ones under half irrigation and that the inoculation with AMF led to the increase of positive associations between vineyard soil-living microbes. Conclusion: Our results indicated different sensibilities within microbial communities living in vineyards, as well as, how they changed during the season, and in response to management practices. Moreover, results highlighted the need of more studies leading with the effect of management practices, especially the addition of AMF, to cropping systems to fully understand the factors that drive their variability, strengthen beneficial microbial networks and achieved a better soil quality that improves crop performance.