Abstract
The European Community has recently imposed considerable restrictions on the use of pesticides, with the establishment of a regulatory framework for the sustainable use of agro-chemicals. However, in the viticulture sector, the intensive use of chemical pesticides, as well as sulfur and copper, is often required. Recently, ozone has been proposed as a possible environmentally friendly tool for controlling the development of pests on vines. However, little is known about the parameters linked to the practical application of ozone for controlling grapevine pests and how it triggers plant defence mechanisms. The main aim of this preliminary study was to determine the concentration of ozone and exposure duration in a treatment for stimulating the expression of systemic acquired resistance (SAR)-related genes, without inducing toxic effects and affecting vine health. In the first trial, three different combinations of ozone concentration and duration of treatment were tested on potted grapevines: i) gaseous ozone at 300 ppb for 12 hours, ii) gaseous ozone at 100 ppb for 6 hours, and iii) gaseous ozone at 100 ppb for 3 hours. Based on the results of the first trial, the potted vines were treated with just 100 ppb for 3 hours in a second trial. Leaves at different developmental stages were sampled. The expression level of systemic acquired resistance-related genes was analysed 12 hours and 7 days after each treatment. Furthermore, physiological parameters and NIR spectra were analysed. Ozone induced a transient up-regulation (limited to 12 hours after the treatments) of chitinases, β-1,3-glucanase and glutathione-S-transferase. On the other hand, pathogen-related (PR) genes showed a more persistent over-expression. The ozone treatment selectively affected the stomatal conductance depending on the different ozone concentrations. Detected NIR spectra revealed significant structural changes in ozone-treated plants, especially in leaves exposed to higher concentrations of ozone. These results suggest that ozone is able to transiently stimulate the expression of some resistance-related genes even at low and non-toxic doses for the vine leaves.
Highlights
In Europe, the viticulture sector occupies only 3.3 % of the total cultivated area, the use of chemicals for pest control in wine production accounts for the 65 % of the total chemicals employed in the whole of the agricultural sector (Eurostat, 2007; Blanco-Ward et al, 2021)
Both environmental concerns and the regulatory framework based on integrated pest management (IPM) imposed by the European Community have compelled a search for new strategies and approaches for the protection of vine from pests (Bahdra, 2015; Modesti et al, 2019)
The induced oxidative stress and subsequent activation of a pathogen-like response were detected in both years, regardless of the dose and treatment duration
Summary
In Europe, the viticulture sector occupies only 3.3 % of the total cultivated area, the use of chemicals for pest control in wine production accounts for the 65 % of the total chemicals employed in the whole of the agricultural sector (Eurostat, 2007; Blanco-Ward et al, 2021). In recent years, both environmental concerns and the regulatory framework based on integrated pest management (IPM) imposed by the European Community have compelled a search for new strategies and approaches for the protection of vine from pests (Bahdra, 2015; Modesti et al, 2019). It has been reported that applying O3 to harvested grapes under controlled conditions may have positive effects on grapes and wine quality, with an increase in different phenolic fractions and extractability, antioxidant enzyme activity and volatile terpenoids (Desanctis et al, 2015; Carbone and Mencarelli, 2015; Bellincontro et al, 2017; Modesti et al, 2018)
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