Publications
Published: 24 November 2021
Mycorrhizal symbiosis balances rootstock‑mediated growth‑defence
tradeoffs
It is well known that AM symbiosis provides several ecosystem services leading to plant adaptation in different environmen-tal conditions and positively affects physiological and production features. Although beneficial effects from grapevine and AM fungi interactions have been reported, the impact on growth-defence tradeoff features has still to be elucidated. In this study, the potential benefits of an inoculum formed by two AM fungal species, with or without a monosaccharide addition, were evaluated on young grapevine cuttings grafted onto 1103P and SO4 rootstocks. Inoculated and non-inoculated plants were maintained in potted vineyard substrate under greenhouse conditions for 3 months. Here, agronomic features were combined with biochemical and molecular techniques to assess the influence of the different treatments. Despite the opposite behaviour of the two selected rootstocks, in AM samples, the evaluation of gene expression, agronomic traits and metabolites production revealed an involvement of the whole root microbiome in the growth-defence tradeoff balancing. Noteworthy, we showed that rootstock genotypes and treatments shaped the root-associated microbes, stimulating plant growth and defence pathways. Progresses in this field would open new perspectives, enabling the application of AMF or their inducers to achieve a more sustainable agriculture also in light of the ongoing climate change.
Published: 19 January 2022
Abiotic Stress and Belowground Microbiome: The Potential of Omics Approaches
Nowadays, the worldwide agriculture is experiencing a transition process toward more sustainable production, which requires the reduction of chemical inputs and the preservation of microbiomes’ richness and biodiversity. Plants are no longer considered as standalone entities, and the future of agriculture should be grounded on the study of plant-associated microorganisms and all their potentiality. Moreover, due to the climate change scenario and the resulting rising incidence of abiotic stresses, an innovative and environmentally friendly technique in agroecosystem management is required to support plants in facing hostile environments. Plant-associated microorganisms have shown a great attitude as a promising tool to improve agriculture sustainability and to deal with harsh environments. Several studies were carried out in recent years looking for some beneficial plant-associated microbes and, on the basis of them, it is evident that Actinomycetes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have shown a considerable number of positive effects on plants’ fitness and health. Given the potential of these microorganisms and the effects of climate change, this review will be focused on their ability to support the plant during the interaction with abiotic stresses and on multi-omics techniques which can support researchers in unearthing the hidden world of plant–microbiome interactions. These associated microorganisms can increase plants’ endurance of abiotic stresses through several mechanisms, such as growth-promoting traits or priming-mediated stress tolerance. Using a multi-omics approach, it will be possible to deepen these mechanisms and the dynamic of belowground microbiomes, gaining fundamental information to exploit them as staunch allies and innovative weapons against crop abiotic enemies threatening crops in the ongoing global climate change context.
Published: 19 January 2022
Novel sustainable strategies to control
Plasmopara viticola in grapevine unveil
new insights on priming responses and
arthropods ecology
BACKGROUND: Reduction of fungicide consumption in agriculture is globally recognized as a priority. Government authorities are fostering research to achieve a reduction of risks associated with conventional pesticides and promoting the development of sustainable alternatives. To address these issues, in the present study, alternative protocols for the control of downy mildew infection in grapevine were compared to the standard protocol. In the first protocol, only resistance inducers were used, com-prising a single formulation with Acibenzolar S-methyl, laminarin and disodium-phosphonate. The second and third protocols followed the standard protocol but substituted phosphonates with phosphorus pentoxide and Ecklonia maxima extract.
RESULTS: The results showed that at veraison downy mildew incidence and severity in all tested protocols were significantly reduced compared to nontreated controls on both canopy and bunches. Expression analysis of key genes involved in plant stress response, indicated that the two protocols for phosphites substitution induced a remodulation of salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA), with positive impact on yields. Analysis of the first protocol revealed that the primed state induced a short delay in bunch ripening, with a shift of carbohydrate metabolism to boost the plant defences, involving an upregulation of defence related-gene, SAR response and a decreased ROS detoxification. Additionally, analysis on the arthropods populations, in parallel with the positive results achieved using alternatives to conventional fungicides, were enriched by those showing the potential of naturally occurring predators of spider mites.
CONCLUSION: This study provides practical solutions to reduce the environmental impact of treatments for the control downy mildew in viticulture.
Published: 21 March 2025
Exploring the potential of lipid elicitors to enhance plant immunity
Lipids besides being components of membranes and storage molecules are also involved in signalling processes
and have proven to be vital components in plant defence mechanisms. Over the past decades, the intricate lipidsignalling pathways that underlie the establishment of defence responses have been extensively studied. These
molecules can act directly as signalling agents in plant defence or serve as precursors in a plethora of biosynthetic
pathways, leading to the production of phytohormones and other signalling agents. Lipids have proven to be
promising elicitors by not only trigger a robust and appropriate defence response, across various plant species,
but also induce resistance against a wide range of pathogens. Allied to this, lipids are widespread molecules in
nature, which makes them an accessible resource and highlights their potential use as a sustainable approach to
crop protection. This comprehensive review emphasizes the potential of lipids and lipid-derived molecules as
elicitors in developing sustainable agricultural practices. By leveraging the natural defence mechanisms of plants,
lipid elicitors offer a viable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional pest management strategies, contributing
to the overall goal of sustainable agriculture
Published: 1 April 2024
Investigating the effectiveness of endophytic fungi under biotic and abiotic
agricultural stress conditions
Endophytic fungi play crucial roles in promoting plant growth and enhancing
stress tolerance, making them valuable allies in agriculture. This reviewer
explores the advantageous roles and implications of endophytic fungi in plant
stress tolerance, focusing on hormonal regulation, nutrient uptake, and their
management of various abiotic and biotic stresses. Endophytic fungi influence
the production of plant hormones such as auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins;
thus, contributing to enhanced growth and stress resilience. They also assist in
nutrient uptake, solubilizing minerals, and fixing atmospheric nitrogen; thereby
improving overall plant nutrition. This reviewer discusses the mechanism of
endophytic fungi’s effectiveness in managing biotic and abiotic stresses,
including; high CO2 levels, waterlogging/drought, salinity, high temperatures,
salinity, heavy metal stress as well as plant pathogens and parasitic attacks.
Furthermore, the bio-control capabilities of endophytic fungi against biotic
stresses are highlighted, showcasing mechanisms such as induced resistance,
mycoparasitism, antibiosis, and competition. The biological activities of recently
isolated compounds and associated endophytic fungi are also discussed. Thus, as
research in this field progresses, harnessing the full potential of endophytic
fungi holds promise for promoting resilient and sustainable agriculture in the
face of changing environmental conditions