From the vineyard soil to the grape berry surface: Unravelling the dynamics of the microbial terroir

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment ecosystems & environment, 2024-10, Vol.374, p.109145, Article 109145
• Main Authors: Teixeira, António, Martins, Viviana, Gerós, Hernâni
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Berry microbiota; Metabarcoding; Microbial niches; Soil microbiota; Vitis vinifera
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2024.109145

While unique bacterial and fungal communities are identified in various vineyard habitats, including soils, roots, and trunks, the impact of soil microbiota on the structure of communities colonizing the fruit surface remains puzzling. Our focus encompasses three aspects: the influence of soil microbiota on the surface microbiota of berries, the patterns of co-occurrence across different biological kingdoms, and a comparative analysis of the soil microbiota’s impact on both endophytic and epiphytic fungi that colonize grape berries. The Aureobasidium and Alternaria genera dominated mature berries but were noticeably absent or in low abundance in soil, while Basidiomycota featured prominently in both vineyard soils and on grape berries. Comparisons between soil and grape berry microbiota challenged the notion of a direct connection, revealing low overlap. Co-occurrence analysis unveiled habitat-specific networks, emphasizing alternative sources for berry colonization. This echoes earlier reports of limited correlation in microbial communities between soil and grape berries. In this study, we broaden our inquiry by incorporating data from a published study. This enables us to conduct a comparative analysis of the soil fungal metagenome, focusing on the endophytic and epiphytic microbiota associated with grape berries. Regional comparisons demonstrated differences in community diversity and dissimilarity in microbial profiles, emphasize the influence of local conditions, suggesting that the microbial composition of vineyards is shaped by region-specific factors. These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of soil and grape microbiota interactions, offering crucial insights for advancing our comprehension of vineyard ecosystems and informing agricultural and viticultural practices. •ITS and 16 s metabarcoding was performed in the microbiota of bulk soil and grape surface.•Bulk soil and grape berry epiphytic microbiota exhibited low co-occurrence.•Comparisons between soil and grape berry microbiota challenged the notion of a direct connection.•Co-occurrence analysis unveiled habitat-specific networks, emphasizing alternative sources for berry colonization.•The soil displayed a higher overlap in fungi among diverse regions compared to grape berries.