Trichoderma, a genus of fungi present in soils, could enhance drought tolerance and water use efficiency in grapevines, critical factors for sustainable viticulture in the face of climate change.
This study investigates the impact of Trichoderma application on young, grafted Sauvignon Blanc grapevines grown in various soil types under controlled drought conditions in a glasshouse setting. The primary objective was to evaluate the potential of Trichoderma to enhance drought tolerance and water use efficiency. Additionally, we used long-read amplicon sequencing to characterize soil microbial communities, revealing distinct differences in bacterial and fungal compositions across the various soil types.
Grafted Sauvignon Blanc plants were cultivated in four different soil types, each including a set treated with Trichoderma and a control set without it. The plants were subjected to regulated drought stress to simulate challenging growth conditions.
We propose that Trichoderma inoculation, by promoting beneficial microbial communities, can be an effective strategy to improve water use efficiencies and drought resilience in grapevines, thereby contributing to more sustainable viticulture practices.
This was presented at Grape Days Marlborough, 2024.