Abstract/Summary

In a world grappling with the severe effects induced by climate change, one of the most significant concerns affecting agriculture is the gradual decline in water quality for irrigation associated to reduced rainfalls, and the consequent increase in soil salinity. This issue is particularly crucial for grapevine cultivation (Vitis vinifera L.) and the associated winemaking industry. The aroma of resulting wines and yield parameters can be influenced both directly by water quality and indirectly due to the effects exerted by salinity on the microbiota, which directly impacts plant health. To gain insights into this topic, our study aimed to analyse the changes induced in the microbiota of both the rhizosphere and carposphere due to salt stress using a metabarcoding approach, focusing on Vitis vinifera cv. Glera. Control plants were irrigated with rainwater, while treated plants were irrigated with water containing salt (NaCl). Our findings revealed significant differences in the microbiota (both fungi and bacteria) of the rhizosphere and carposphere between the two treatments. For instance, the Shannon diversity index (i.e., alfa-diversity) was lower in the treated plants compared to the control not-treated, whilst the beta-diversity did not show any differences. Several microbial phyla exhibited better resilience to this abiotic stress (e.g., Ascomycota, Saccharomycetes, Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes), shedding light on their impact on crucial bacterial and fungal groups essential for subsequent winemaking stages. Additionally, the salt stress negatively affected yield parameters. This study contributes valuable insights to the viticultural community, providing a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between soil characteristics, microbial communities, and their influence on productivity.