Improving productivity and environmental sustainability of vine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivation under unfavorable growing conditions by the use of trace elements and microorganisms

Project leaders

Massimo Zacchini, Sofia Veliksar

Agreement

MOLDOVA - ASM-not in force - Academy of Sciences of Moldova

Call

CNR/ASM 2015-2016

Department

Earth system science and environmental technologies

Thematic area

Earth system science and environmental technologies

Status of the project

New

Research proposal

Long-term plant cultivation imposed by a monoculture such as in vineyards leads to depletion of essential soil nutrients, reduction of microbiological activity in the rhizosphere and soil pollution due to the accumulation of residues from chemical treatments. These adverse cultivation conditions negatively affect plant growth by reducing the capability to face abiotic and biotic stresses such as extreme temperatures and pest attacks, and thus plant production by decreasing the fruits' quality and quantity. A new approach to vineyard cultivation aiming at recovering plant production by ameliorating the growing conditions is currently requested to maintain adequate levels of the output of this important fruit crop. Basically, new and efficient methods of agro-management are needed, as a basic task of a modern approach to an integrated agriculture. In this context, the present project proposal aims at developing and applying a novel technology to restore the ecosystem balance and thus the quality and productivity of harvest in the vineyards. Soils in Moldova are characterised by a poor supply of mobile forms of micronutrients such as Fe, B, Mn etc. Consequently, the perennial plants such as vine can experience nutrient deficiency conditions during the cultivation. In order to contribute to the mitigation of this grow constraint, in the Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Water Regime, Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection of the ASM, a specialized microelement complex termed Microcom-V (Patent No 2654 G2, 2005) was formulated. This complex is composed by six essential microelements (B, Fe, Mn, Zn, Mo, Co) able to sustain plant nutrient request along the cultivation period through adequate treatment schemes. Microcom-V is designed to regulate the metabolic processes in grape during the critical developmental stages. To enhance the capability of this complex to both support plant growth and make plant more tolerant to the stress factors, an implementation of its composition could be of notable interest. In this regard, researches conducted in recent years have shown the effectiveness of supplying soil and leaves with strains of bacteria, in order to stimulate plant protection processes. Then, in accordance with the guidelines of integrated agriculture, a valuable choice could be the combination of Microcom-V with active rhizosphere microorganisms and their metabolites to increase nutrient bioavailability under cultivation conditions that are ecologically and economically sustainable. Consequently, the proposal is aimed at proposing to integrate the application scheme of Microcom-V with suspensions of microorganisms and their metabolites to better promote vine plant health under cultivation. The effectiveness of the simultaneous applications of microorganisms and their metabolites with trace elements will be studied using basic methodologies referred to plant physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, plant protection, agricultural chemistry and ecology. In particular, the effect of vine foliar fertilization by Microcom-V together with different strains of selected bacteria, through an appropriate scheme of quali-quantitative treatment along the cultivation period, on the nutritional status and the physiological performances of vine plants will be evaluated at leaf level by analyzing macro- and micro-nutrient concentration by AAS, pigment content and photosynthetic efficiency by reliable, non destructive methods (measurements of chlorophylls by SPAD, photosynthetic, transpiration and respiratory processes by an open gas exchange system, and chlorophyll "a" fluorescence by IMAGING-PAM fluorometer). At biochemical level, the nutritional balance will be monitored by analyzing the redox status of leaf cells, in order to put in evidence the onset of oxidative stress conditions. In particular, the alteration of the redox homeostasis will be evaluated by measuring lipid peroxide content (MDA assay), membrane redox activity and H2O2 levels, and the antioxidant response, both non-enzymatic (phenol, ascorbate, glutathione and polyamine contents) and enzymatic (ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, superoxide dismutase activities). Investigations through molecular tools will be focused on the comparative analysis of the expression of candidate genes involved in oxidative status and stress response by using Real Time-PCR. Resistance to low temperatures will be determined on the basis of the analyses of: -the dynamics of carbohydrates and proline in leaves and shoots of grapes during the growing season and in shoots and buds on the dormant period; - the degree of maturation of the shoots; - the ratio of the living and the dead buds after the release of the dormancy period (on spring). Effect of biofertilizants on the herbicide toxicity reduction will be studied in a field experiment by evaluating type and quantity of weeds, mineral status of plants, bushes winter hardiness. Biofertilizant effect on the copper toxicity reduction will be evaluated in controlled conditions by analyzing plant growth and development, photosynthetic activity, trace element content in the soil, leaves, shoots and roots of plants. Resistance to the main diseases of grapes (mildew - Plasmopara viticola, oidium - Oidium Tukceri, gray mold - Botrytis cinerea) will be determined during the ripening of the grapes on the scoring scale (Boubals D., 1978). Productivity of fruit-bearing bushes will be assessed by the number and weight of bunches to 1 bush, berry quality, quality of wine at every variant of the experiment. The overall aim of the proposal is to characterize the efficiency of different composition of micronutrient and microorganism combination supplied to soil and leaves for improving vine (Vitis vinifera L.) productivity and to elaborate methods for their use in unfavorable growing conditions in order to enhance the environmental sustainability of grape production.

Research goals

The overall objective of this research proposal is to set up an optimal combination between the products of microbial synthesis and trace elements functioning as micronutrients, and the elaboration of methods for its use in unfavorable growing conditions, in order to increase plant productivity. This considerable outcome can be achieved by exploiting the properties of microbial products in combination with a micronutrient complex and their effects on plant physiology performances in terms of nutrient uptake from rhizosphere, photosynthetic efficiency and activation of stress defence mechanisms to counteract the toxicity of heavy metals and herbicides. A valuable spin-off of the project will be the definition of a new tool to increase the environmental and economical sustainability of the agro-management of vine cultivation, capable to reduce the chemical load to ecosystems and to obtain high quality products for the market. In this view, three main objectives are individuated:
a) To clarify the limiting effects on the physiology and quali-quantitative production of vine exerted by some unfavorable environmental conditions (copper and herbicide excess in soil, low temperatures)
b) To precise the effects of three naturally-occurring strains of soil-inhabiting microorganisms and trace elements on vine growth and stress-resistance ability
c) To develop the optimal combination of microorganisms and trace elements to improve productivity and grape quality in commercial vineyards.

Last update: 08/06/2025