Composition and biodiversity of soil and root-associated microbiome in Vitis vinifera cultivar Lambrusco distinguish the microbial terroir of the Lambrusco DOC protected designation of origin area on a local scale

Enrico Nanetti; Giorgia Palladino; Daniel Scicchitano; Giulia Trapella; Nicolò Cinti; Marco Fabbrini; Alice Cozzi; Giovanni Accetta; Carlo Tassini; Luigi Iannaccone; Marco Candela; Simone Rampelli

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1108036

Composition and biodiversity of soil and root-associated microbiome in Vitis vinifera cultivar Lambrusco distinguish the microbial terroir of the Lambrusco DOC protected designation of origin area on a local scale

Front Microbiol. 2023 Feb 22:14:1108036. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1108036. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Enrico Nanetti¹, Giorgia Palladino^{1

2}, Daniel Scicchitano^{1

2}, Giulia Trapella^{1

2}, Nicolò Cinti¹, Marco Fabbrini^{1

3}, Alice Cozzi¹, Giovanni Accetta⁴, Carlo Tassini⁴, Luigi Iannaccone⁴, Marco Candela^{1

2}, Simone Rampelli¹

Affiliations

¹ Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
² Fano Marine Center, The Inter-Institute Center for Research on Marine Biodiversity, Resources and Biotechnologies, Fano, Italy.
³ Microbiomics Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
⁴ Istituto Tecnico Statale "Ignazio Calvi", Finale Emilia, Italy.

Abstract

Introduction: Wines produced from the same grape cultivars but in different locations possess distinctive qualities leading to different consumer's appreciation, preferences, and thus purchase choices. Here, we explore the possible importance of microbiomes at the soil-plant interface as a determinant of the terroir properties in grapevine production, which confer specific growth performances and wine chemo-sensory properties at the local scale.

Methods: In particular, we investigated the variation in microbial communities associated with the roots of Vitis vinifera cultivar Lambrusco, as well as with surrounding bulk soils, in different vineyards across the "Consorzio Tutela Lambrusco DOC" protected designation of origin area (PDO, Emilia Romagna, Italy), considering viticultural sites located both inside and outside the consortium in two different seasons (June and November 2021).

Results: According to our findings, rhizospheric and soil microbiomes show significant structural differences in relation to the sampling site, regardless of seasonality, while endophytic microbiomes seem to be completely unaffected by such variables. Furthermore, a deeper insight into the microbial terroir of PDO areas highlighted the presence of some rhizospheric microorganisms enriched inside the consortium and characterizing the PDO regardless of both sampling season and farming strategy. These include Bacillus, Paenibacillus, and Azospirillum, which are all well-known plant growth-promoting bacteria.

Discussion: Taken together, our results suggest a connection between soil and root microbiomes of V. vinifera cultivar Lambrusco and the local designation of origin, emphasizing the potential role of PDO-enriched plant growth-promoting bacteria in vine growing and final quality of the Lambrusco DOC wine.

Keywords: Vitis vinifera; microbial terroir; microbiomes; plant growth-promoting bacteria; rhizosphere.