Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #403679
Research Project: Development of Applied Management Systems for Diseases of Perennial Crops with Emphasis on Vector-Borne Pathogens of Grapevine and Citrus

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: Characterization of genomes and potential biological control mechanisms of novel Californian Trichoderma species isolated from grapevines

Author
item Wallis, Christopher

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Grapevines encounter numerous trunk diseases that result in significant yield losses and premature decline, including canker diseases, caused by a variety of fungal pathogens, and Pierce’s disease, caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. Existing controls for these diseases generally involve the use of pesticides, including fungicides to control fungal canker diseases and insecticides to control the vectoring insects of Xylella fastidiosa. However, pesticide resistance is developing, and long-term, sustainable management options are desired. Therefore, research was initiated to isolate and develop biological control agents to protect grapevines from trunk diseases. This involved isolating multiple Trichoderma spp. isolates from Californian vineyards. These fungi were tested for direct ability to limit pathogen growth and for capacity to produce antibiotics via agar plate assays. In addition, grapevines were inoculated with Trichoderma isolates followed by inoculation by either a fungal canker pathogen or Xylella fastidiosa. Disease progression then was compared to plants that were not inoculated with Trichoderma. This provided evidence that certain Trichoderma spp. isolates were putatively effective biological control agents. These promising Trichoderma spp. isolates then had draft genomes acquired via next-generation sequencing and metabolites assessed via liquid chromatography. This improved understanding about the genes and metabolites potentially involved in biological control activity.