Efficacy of preharvest application of biocontrol agents against gray mold in grapevine

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1154370
• Publication Date: 2023-03-13T05:49:57Z
• Authors: Valeria Altieri; Vittorio Rossi; Giorgia Fedele
• Keywords: Preharvest; Vineyard; Aureobasidium pullulans; Botrytis; Vinclozolin

The use of biocontrol agents (BCAs) represents a promising alternative to conventional methods for the management gray mold in vineyards during berry ripening stage. main advantages BCAs are short preharvest interval and lack chemical fungicide residues wine. In this study, eight commercial (based on different Bacillus or Trichoderma species strains, Aureobasidium pullulans , Metschnikowia fructicola Pythium oligandrum ) reference (boscalid) were applied vineyard over three seasons evaluate dynamics time terms their relative efficacies control. At 1–13 days after application surfaces field conditions, berries collected artificially inoculated with conidia Botrytis cinerea under controlled laboratory severity was observed 7 incubation. Significant differences among years, according number grew surface before B. inoculation, season by day interaction (altogether accounting >80% experimental variance). variability BCA efficacy closely related environmental conditions at following days. Overall, increased degree accumulated between inoculation dry (no rain) periods (r = 0.914, P 0.001). Rainfall associated drop temperature caused relevant reduction efficacy. These results demonstrate that an effective chemicals control vineyards. However, can considerably affect