Abstract
The phenolic profile of the grape berries is a key quality factor for the red grapevine varieties and several techniques have been applied to improve it. An innovative technique is the application of resistance elicitors and phytohormones. In the present study, leaves and berries of a Greek red indigenous variety (Mouhtaro) sprayed with two elicitors, benzothiadiazole and chitosan and a plant hormone abscisic acid, during veraison. Physicochemical and phenolic characteristics of the berries and microbial communities of rhizosphere, phyllosphere and carposphere were analyzed at harvest. Differences in the microbial communities on different plant compartments were observed after the application of the plant activators. Chitosan treatment increased the abundance of the beneficial lactic acid bacteria, while the abscisic acid treatment decreased the presence of spoilage fungi on the carposphere. Treatments differentiate total phenolics, anthocyanins and in the chemical characteristics of grape must with chitosan treated grapes had increased anthocyanins and skin-derived phenolics that correlated positively with the microbial taxa that was discriminant by LefSe analysis. This research provides an overview of the effect of plant activators on the microbial ecology and grape quality of the Greek variety Mouhtaro and presents the potential of new and innovative approaches in the field of sustainable viticulture.
Highlights
The European Commission announced the “European Green Deal”, a set of policy initiatives that aim to reform several European economic activities to be climate friendly by 2050 [1]
We investigated the effects of foliar application of two elicitors, chitosan and benzothiadiazole, and a plant hormone, abscisic acid, on a local red grape variety Mouhtaro cultivated from the Muses Valley (Ascri, Viotia, Greece), by analyzing berry quality characteristics, as well as plant-associated microbial communities
Similar results were recorded for the total acidity (TA), where grapes treated with abscisic acid (ABA) and BTH showed increased TA
Summary
The European Commission announced the “European Green Deal”, a set of policy initiatives that aim to reform several European economic activities to be climate friendly by 2050 [1]. The “From Farm to Fork” strategy [2] highlights the need of food production chain sustainability, by decreasing the use of agrochemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) and, at the same time, ensuring the production of healthy, high quality, costeffective food products for the consumers Under this framework, studies on sustainable cropping systems aim to deliver innovative solutions and provide sufficient, safe, nutritious, healthy, and affordable food. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5802 acquisition and resource use efficiency (like nutrients and water), and (iii) ameliorate quality characteristics of the food product. Their application in crop management systems aims to increase agriculture sustainability and ensure environmental security. There is a growing interest in management practices that overcome biotic and abiotic stresses [4], including new and innovative techniques, such as the application of elicitors and plant hormones [5,6]
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