Novel Californian grapevine Trichoderma isolates reduce colonization of fungal trunk canker pathogens and Xylella fastidiosa

Authors: Wallis, Christopher; SHINDE, RANJEET - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE); ELIS, MARGARET - Fresno State University; Gorman, Zachary; Mekdara, Nalong

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Grape growers require novel management options to control fungal canker pathogens and Xylella fastidiosa, the causal agent of Pierce’s disease. This research screened novel Californian grapevine-isolated Trichoderma isolates for biological control potential. At least six of these demonstrated consistent potential in limiting fungal pathogens, whether in culture assays, greenhouse studies, or field trials. However, the Trichoderma isolates were not able to limit Xylella fastidiosa. These isolates belong to the species Trichoderma harzianum, which has known biological control activity, Trichoderma capillare, which has not been used as a biological control agent previously, or one of two putatively new Trichoderma species. Regardless, these Trichoderma isolates can be developed into products that growers can use to control fungal diseases.

Technical Abstract: Grapevine fungal trunk diseases are cosmopolitan and act to reduce vineyard yields over time. Additionally, Pierce’s disease, caused by Xylella fastidiosa, is a fatal disease of grapevines and a major threat wherever it is endemic. Both of these grapevine diseases are generally managed via cultural practices and chemical applications. However, these can be costly due to labor costs or are becoming less effective due to pathogen resistance to pesticides. Thus, there is increasing interest in biological control agents to manage grapevine trunk diseases. Therefore, novel isolates of Trichoderma species were collected from grapevine tissues in California with the intention that these would be likely to survive and thrive in the semi-arid and very hot climate present throughout much of the state. Genetic analyses and morphology were utilized to identify isolates to species or species complex, which yielded several different species: two isolates of Trichoderma harzianum, two isolates of Trichoderma capillare, and two putative novel Trichoderma species. These were examined for activity against fungal trunk pathogens Diplodia seriata, Eutypa lata, and Neofusicoccum parvum via co-plating and spent media assays. Follow-up greenhouse studies also assessed the ability of isolates to limit fungal pathogen canker development and Xylella fastidiosa success over six months. Lastly, field studies tested the ability to limit or remove fungal trunk pathogen colonization of pruned spurs by the Trichoderma isolates from this study and two isolates from another study, which were an isolate of Trichoderma asperellum and a member of the Trichoderma saturnisporopsis species complex. Results yielded several Trichoderma isolates with consistent ability to limit fungal pathogens in culture, greenhouse plants, and pruned spurs in the field, and with the ability to be re-isolated after a full field season. However, these isolates were not able to consistently limit Xylella fastidiosa titers or Pierce’s disease symptoms. Taken together, these experiments demonstrated the ability of California Trichoderma isolates to be deployed as locally sourced biological control agents to protect Californian vineyards as well as those in similar climates.