Exploring the microbiota of grapevines: Tools and perspectives for sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Viticulture plays a significant role in global agriculture, producing wine, table grapes, and other products, with notable economic and environmental impacts. This review explores techniques for studying grapevine-associated microbiota, focusing on their diversity and role in sustainable agriculture. Understanding microbial diversity is crucial for optimizing plant health, enhancing disease resistance, improving nutrient availability, and supporting vital physiological functions. Research has identified a wide range of endophytic microorganisms, including fungi, bacteria, viruses, and yeasts, across different Vitis vinifera cultivars and Vitis species. Microbial diversity may provide plants with survival advantages or contribute to susceptibility to plant pathogens, though further research is needed to confirm these hypotheses. Microbial fertilizers are emerging as alternatives to conventional chemicals, offering the potential for increased crop productivity and environmental sustainability. This review highlights both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods for studying grapevine microbiota. Culture-dependent techniques isolate microorganisms to test plant growth-promoting or antifungal properties, while culture-independent methods provide detailed insights into microbial taxonomy and metabolic potential. The integration of multiple approaches is critical for advancing our understanding of grapevine microbial ecology. The concept of “culturomics” has recently gained prominence, helping to identify beneficial microorganisms and discover previously uncultivated species. This knowledge will not only improve crop health and productivity but also provide innovative strategies for the sustainable management of agroecosystems.