Modification of Early Response of Vitis vinifera to Pathogens Relating to Esca Disease and Biocontrol Agent Vintec® Revealed By Untargeted Metabolomics on Woody Tissues

Abstract

Esca disease is one of the most destructive grapevine trunk diseases. Phaeoacremonium minimum and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora are two of the known fungal pathogens associated with this disease. Today, biocontrol agents against Esca are mainly based on the use of the strain of the mycoparasite fungal genus Trichoderma such as the Vintec® product. The aim of this study was to investigate early response of woody tissues to Esca pathogens and identify metabolites that could be correlated with a biocontrol activity within a complex woody matrix. An untargeted liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry metabolomic approach coupled to a spectral similarity network was used to highlight clusters of compounds associated with the plant response to pathogens and biocontrol. Dereplication highlighted the possible role of glycerophospholipids and polyphenol compounds, the latest mainly belonging to stilbenoids. Antifungal activity of some relevant biomarkers, evaluated in vitro on Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Botrytis cinerea, suggests that some of these compounds can play a role to limit the development of Esca pathogens in planta.

Comparative Transcriptomics Suggests Early Modifications by Vintec® in Grapevine Trunk of Hormonal Signaling and Secondary Metabolism Biosynthesis in Response to Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Phaeoacremonium minimum

“…Remarkably, the pattern of expression of genes associated with the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, or phenols depends on the presence or the absence of the BCA Vintec ® during the infection. Our results suggest that the presence of the BCA Vintec ® enhances the accumulation of stilbenes, which have antifungal properties, in accordance with parallel metabolomic work on the same pathosystem ( Chervin et al, 2022 ). Stilbenes are described as phytoalexins in grapevine, so they are implicated in plant defense ( Langcake and Pryce, 1977 ).…”

“…The results of a previous study show that the application of the BCA Vintec ® on grapevine wood triggers significant metabolic changes upon infection with P. chlamydospora and P. minimum . Three weeks after infection, the different classes of stilbenoid and flavonoid compounds, known for their antifungal properties, are differently produced in plants pre-inoculated with Vintec ® compared with non-pre-inoculated plants ( Chervin et al, 2022 ). In the present work, we investigate rapid transcriptomic reprogramming in grapevine trunk in response to inoculation with the BCA Vintec ® , which is a commercial T. atroviride SC1-based solution.…”

Application of biostimulant products and biological control agents in sustainable viticulture: A review

“…Esca is caused by the association of the fungi Phaeoacremonium minimum and Phaeomoniella chlamydospore and is one of the main Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs). Control of Esca is achieved mainly through BCAs, in which common biological agents are Trichoderma fungi ( Chervin et al., 2022 ). Trichoderma atroviride-based products (CS1 by Vintec ® - Belchim Crop Production and I-1237 by Esquive ® - Agrauxine by Lesaffre) are often effective because they have multiple mechanisms of action: substrate competition, antibiosis, and mycoparasitism ( Pertot et al., 2015 ; Belchim, 2022 ).…”

Effects of Growing Areas, Pruning Wound Protection Products, and Phenological Stage on the Stilbene Composition of Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) Canes

“…While extensive studies investigated the mode of action of PPPs against GTD pathogens, 29,30 their behavior within the plant after application, 29,30 and endophyte microbial ecology, 9 research on the effects of PPPs on stilbene accumulation remains limited. 31,32 This knowledge gap underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of how PPPs influence the stilbene dynamics in grapevine wood. The objective of this research was to investigate the accumulation of stilbenes in one-year-old wood pruning wounds after applying various pruning wound protection products.…”

“…These include the Vitis species and cultivar, cultivation and environmental conditions, vineyard age, rootstock, water availability, soil composition, and the type of fungal diseases. − Studies demonstrated an increase in stilbene concentration within the affected discolored wood, , as well as in xylem vessels and adjacent tissues, following inoculation with pathogens such as Phaeoacremonium minimum and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora. , Specifically, E-resveratrol and E−ε-viniferin accumulate close to the colonized tissues, suggesting their role in inhibiting wood colonization. , However, plant protection products (PPPs) may influence the capacity of treated plants to accumulate wood stilbenes, and this interference can be decisive in countering pathogen attacks. While extensive studies investigated the mode of action of PPPs against GTD pathogens, , their behavior within the plant after application, , and endophyte microbial ecology, research on the effects of PPPs on stilbene accumulation remains limited. , This knowledge gap underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of how PPPs influence the stilbene dynamics in grapevine wood. The objective of this research was to investigate the accumulation of stilbenes in one-year-old wood pruning wounds after applying various pruning wound protection products.…”