The trunks of grapevines are vulnerable to a variety of pathogenic fungi that can completely destroy the plants over the course of several years. These fungi usually enter the plant through pruning wounds. If the vine is also under stress from drought and high temperatures, the damage becomes even more severe. A research team from the Faculty of Horticulture at Mendel University is combating these trunk diseases with bacteria from the Sahara Desert. The bacteria are introduced into the natural microbiome of grapevine seedlings via water enriched with a bacterial solution. They then colonize the roots and woody tissues of the vines, significantly promoting root system development and suppressing the growth of harmful fungi.
Grapevines are primarily attacked by ascomycete and some basidiomycete fungi, which colonize the wood of shrubs and trees. These pathogens are more prevalent in densely planted vineyards or where mechanical pruning is used. “After inoculation into the root system, the bacteria spread into the plant’s wood, supporting root growth by approximately 20–50%. If a pathogen is already present in the plant tissue, the bacteria can slow or even halt its development. In artificially inoculated seedlings, the bacteria delay the colonization of wood by the pathogen — a process that typically occurs under stress conditions, especially in the summer,” explained Aleš Eichmeier from the Faculty of Horticulture at Mendel University.
The research team is currently investigating what antibiotics are produced and secreted by the bacteria into their surroundings. The duration of the bacteria’s effectiveness in the plant’s microbiome has not yet been verified. “In parallel with our research, Rovensa Next, a company we have a collaboration agreement with, is testing the use of the bacteria not only against grapevine fungal pathogens but also in other crops, including cereals, to maximize the commercial potential of the product. They are also working on the formulation of the bacteria — in other words, the form in which the product could ultimately be sold,” Eichmeier added.
Trunk diseases in grapevines can lead to sudden or gradual death of both young vines and mature plants. Due to climate change, symptoms are becoming increasingly common. Researchers estimate that up to 20% of vineyards worldwide are affected by these diseases, making them the most serious threat to viticulture. The Czech Republic is no exception, with financial losses from replanting dead vines reaching hundreds of millions of CZK annually. “It’s fair to say that fungal pathogens are now ubiquitous. Most are endophytes and do not cause damage unless triggered by a combination of stress factors such as high temperatures and drought. The grape variety’s sensitivity also plays a key role,” said Eichmeier.
The bacteria were brought to Lednice a few years ago by Algerian scientist Akila Berraf-Tebbal, who was involved in research on the potential use of nanomaterials in agricultural practice under the OP VVV project. Currently, Mendeleum – the Institute of Genetics has signed a cooperation agreement with the multinational company Oro Agri, a member of the Rovensa Next group. “In our analysis of bacterial exudates, we collaborate with the Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, and the Faculty of Science and Technology in Nancy,” Eichmeier listed.
Contact for more information:
Assoc. Prof. Ing. Aleš Eichmeier, Ph.D.
+420 774 644 120
ales.eichmeier@mendelu.cz
Mendeleum – Institute of Genetics, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno