The Combination of Both Heat and Water Stresses May Worsen Botryosphaeria Dieback Symptoms in Grapevine

Abstract

(1) Background: Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) have become a global threat to vineyards worldwide. These diseases share three main common features. First, they are caused by multiple pathogenic micro-organisms. Second, these pathogens often maintain a long latent phase, which makes any research in pathology and symptomatology challenging. Third, a consensus is raising to pinpoint combined abiotic stresses as a key factor contributing to disease symptom expression. (2) Methods: We analyzed the impact of combined abiotic stresses in grapevine cuttings artificially infected by two fungi involved in Botryosphaeria dieback (one of the major GTDs), Neofusicoccum parvum and Diplodia seriata. Fungal-infected and control plants were subjected to single or combined abiotic stresses (heat stress, drought stress or both). Disease intensity was monitored thanks to the measurement of necrosis area size. (3) Results and conclusions: Overall, our results suggest that combined stresses might have a stronger impact on disease intensity upon infection by the less virulent pathogen Diplodia seriata. This conclusion is discussed through the impact on plant physiology using metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses of leaves sampled for the different conditions.

Physiological and hormonal responses of drought‐stressed Eucalyptus seedlings infected with Neofusicoccum kwambonambiense

“…N. kwambonambiense infection led to a decrease in photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration in water-stressed plants in agreement with other Botryosphaeriaceae studies addressing abiotic stress (Barradas et al, 2018;Bostock et al, 2014;Fernandez et al, 2023). However, no alteration in Φ PS II was found, probably because the compensatory reactions that mitigate the effects of water stress in the electron transport chain were not active (Correia, Pintó-Marijuan, Neves, et al, 2014;Ditmarová et al, 2009).…”

Surviving a Double-Edged Sword: Response of Horticultural Crops to Multiple Abiotic Stressors

“…Heat + Drought [83] Heat + Drought [84] Heat + Drought [71] Proteomics + Metabolomics Brassica juncea Heat + Salt [85]…”

Duplex Real-Time PCR Assays for the Simultaneous Detection and Quantification of Botryosphaeriaceae Species Causing Canker Diseases in Woody Crops

“…The implementation of new management techniques, such as high-density cultivation, prune intensification, drip irrigation and fertilization, mechanical harvest, use of more productive varieties and the cultivation in agronomically and environmentally more favorable cropping areas, has increased the fruit production in the last decades [1]. However, this new scenario, together with the current climate change situation, have favored the increase in almond diseases [2][3][4]. Among them, woody canker diseases, associated with fungi of the Botryosphaeriaceae family, affect a great number of agronomically important woody crops such as olive, grapevine, avocado, blueberry, stone fruit, citrus and nut crops, including almond [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”