Fungal endophytic communities associated to the phyllosphere of grapevine cultivars under different types of management

• Published in: Fungal biology 2016-12, Vol.120 (12), p.1525-1536
• Main Authors: Varanda, Carla Marisa Reis, Oliveira, Mônica, Materatski, Patrick, Landum, Miguel, Clara, Maria Ivone Esteves, Félix, Maria do Rosário
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture - methods; Biodiversity; Biological control; Cluster Analysis; Conventional mode; DNA, Fungal - chemistry; DNA, Fungal - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - chemistry; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer - genetics; Endophytes; Endophytes - classification; Endophytes - genetics; Endophytes - isolation & purification; Fungi - classification; Fungi - genetics; Fungi - isolation & purification; Phylogeny; Plant Leaves - microbiology; Portugal; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Vineyards; Vitis - microbiology
• ISSN: 1878-6146; 1878-6162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2016.08.002

Fungal endophytes present in different asymptomatic grapevine plants (Vitis vinifera L.) located in different vineyards within Alentejo, a highly important viticulture region in Portugal, were identified in this study. Sampled grapevine plants included the three most representative cultivars in the region, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Aragonez, growing under two different modes of management, conventional and biological. Sixteen fungal taxa were identified through sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region. Total number of endophytic fungi isolated showed significant differences both in management mode and in cultivars, with higher numbers in grapevines under conventional mode and from Syrah cultivar. The composition of fungal endophytic communities did not show significant differences among cultivars, but differences were observed between fungal communities isolated from grapevines under biological or conventional modes. The most fungal taxa isolated from grapevines cultivated under biological mode were Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium sp., and Nigrospora oryzae, and under conventional mode Botrytis cinerea, Epicoccum nigrum, and Epicoccum sp. These differences suggest that the different products used in grapevine production have impacts in fungal endophytic composition. Further investigation of the identified fungi with respect to their antagonistic characteristics and potential use in plant protection to ensure food safety is now in course. •Alternaria sp. and Epicoccum sp. are the most frequent fungal endophytes in grapevine leaves.•Fungal endophytes in grapevine could be influenced by the cultivar.•Fungal endophytes in grapevine are influenced by the mode of plant management.•Alternaria sp., Cladosporium sp., and Nigrospora oryzae are associated to biological mode.•Botrytis cinerea and Epicoccum sp. are associated to conventional mode.