Conjoined partners: efficacy and side effects of grafting and dsRNA application on the microbial endophyte population of grapevine plants inoculated with two esca-related fungal pathogens.

Grafting has been exploited since 7000 BC to enhance productivity, disease resistance, and adaptability of cultivated plants to stressful conditions especially in woody crops such as grapevine (Vitis spp.). In contrast, the application of sequence specific double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) to control fungal pathogens and insect pests has only been recently developed.

Small RNA Profiling of Aster Yellows Phytoplasma-Infected Plants Showing Different Symptoms.

Micropropagated plants infected with ' Phytoplasma asteris' showed virescence symptoms, witches' broom symptoms, or became asymptomatic after their planting in pots. Nine plants were grouped into three categories according to these symptoms, which were then employed for investigation. The phytoplasma concentration, as determined by qPCR, correlated well with the severity of symptoms.

Plasma activated water triggers plant defence responses.

Nowadays, one of the main challenges is moving towards an eco-sustainable agriculture, able to preserve the food production through a reduced use of pesticides. Current global food sustenance by intensive agriculture is mainly based on economic crop monocultures and drastically reduces the biodiversity, increasing the yield losses due to the presence of biotic and abiotic stresses. A technology based on plasma activated water (PAW), characterized by the presence in liquid of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, was tested to try to ensure yield stability also enhancing the plant resistance responses and to promote an eco-sustainable management of plant diseases.

Molecular Diversity of Phytoplasmas Associated with Grapevine Yellows Disease in North-Eastern Italy.

A 3-year survey was conducted in Northern Italy to verify the presence and diversity of phytoplasmas in selected vineyards showing symptoms of severe yellows. Symptomatic and asymptomatic grapevines were sampled, and insects were collected using yellow sticky traps. The phytoplasmas detected in grapevine samples were different according to the years: "flavescence dorée" (16SrV-C/D) was detected together with other phytoplasmas such as 16SrXII-A ('Candidatus Phytoplasma solani'-related, bois noir), 16SrI-B ('Ca.

Development and evaluation of different complex media for phytoplasma isolation and growth.

The focus of this research was the development and evaluation of different complex liquid and solid media for the isolation and growth of phytoplasma strains infecting grapevine plants. Previously reported media supporting phytoplasma isolation are commercial and not easy to modify in order to improve performance and selectivity towards obtaining pure cultures of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma' species. Three media (Piv®, CB and MB) were therefore evaluated for phytoplasma isolation and colony formation under microaerophilic growing conditions, using grapevine canes from plants showing yellows symptoms, and infected by "flavescence dorée", "bois noir" and aster yellows phytoplasmas as sources.