ATTIVITÀ DI MICRORGANISMI BENEFICI E DI UN MASTICE SU PHAEOMOMIELLA CHLAMYDOSPORA DEL COMPLESSO ESCA DELLA VITE

ACTIVITY OF BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS AND A SEALANT POLYMER TOWARDS PHAEOMONIELLA CHLAMYDOSPORA OF GRAPEVINE ESCA COMPLEX Wood diseases, Esca complex in particular, are one of the main problems in viticulture. The peculiarity and the increasing incidence of these diseases require an integrated control strategy including specific treatments, as well as the protection of pruning wounds. The present work aimed to compare the activity of formulations based on microorganisms, Trichoderma atroviride and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and a wound sealant polymer. The activity of each formulation was evaluated in vitro at two temperatures, against Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Pch), the main pathogen associated with Esca disease. The study was also carried out on potted vines, cv. Sauvignon, and in the vineyard, cv. Barbera, by protecting the pruning wounds with the formulations that were applied before the Pch inoculations. Results showed in vitro activity by T. atroviride and, to a lesser extent, by B. amyloliquefaciens and their efficacy in vivo to protect pruning wounds by consistently reducing the Pch infections. The polymer displayed the best activity in in vitro assays, with conflicting results in vivo.