Microscale analysis of soil characteristics and microbiomes reveals potential impacts on plants and fruit: vineyard as a model case study

Aims: Soil microbiome roles in agriculture is becoming more and more important. This importance is also reflected on the way plants are seen: complex organisms formed by the plant itself plus the microbes inhabiting its tissues, including the ones on the surface of every organ and the ones adhered or in proximity to the roots. In addition, as already demonstrated, the microbial community associated with a specific soil is able to predetermine the health status of crops. For all the above mentioned reasons, defining the microbial composition of agricultural soils and the factors driving the assemblage is pivotal to achieve more sustainable agriculture and viticulture. Methods: We aimed to investigate how the soil geological characteristics influence the microbiome composition associated with close geographically related vineyards. Moreover, we studied both the top (15 cm in depth) and deep (120 cm in depth) soil layers as anthropically influenced and almost-undisturbed soil, respectively. Results: We observed slightly different microbial communities despite the close geographical proximity of the two vineyards, which is considered one of the main determinants of the soil microbiome composition. In addition, we found that the geological characteristics of the two soils influence both the root distribution and the accumulation of pathogen- and symbiont-related genera. Sensory profiles of the Grillo wines from the two different soils confirmed the tight link between soil origin and wine traits. Conclusions: In the present study, we highlight that the geological characteristics of soil can influence soil microbial composition and assemblage in close geographically related vineyards, with a potential effect on wine features.