Despite its importance in plant health and crop quality, the diversity of epiphytic bacteria on grape berries and other plant parts, like leaves and bark, remains poorly described, as does the role of telluric bacteria in plant colonization. In this study, we compare the bacterial community size and structure in vineyard soils, as well as on grapevine bark, leaves and berries. Analyses of culturable bacteria revealed differences in the size and structure of the populations in each ecosystem. The highest bacteria population counts and the greatest diversity of genera were found in soil samples, followed by bark, grapes and leaves. The identification of isolates revealed that some genera – Pseudomonas, Curtobacterium, and Bacillus – were present in all ecosystems, but in different amounts, while others were ecosystem-specific. About 50% of the genera were common to soil and bark, but absent from leaves and grapes. The opposite was also observed: grape and leaf samples presented 50% of genera in common that were absent from trunk and soil. The bacterial community structure analyzed by T-RFLP indicated similarities between the profiles of leaves and grapes, on the one hand, and bark and soil, on the other, reflecting the number of shared T-RFs. The results suggest an interaction between telluric bacterial communities and the epiphytic bacteria present on the different grapevine parts.

Grapevine decline is a top concern in viticulture worldwide and is often associated with many biotic and abiotic factors. Grape trunk diseases and viruses are some of the most frequently identified causes of vine dieback. However, a decline is sometimes observed when no mineral deficiency or excess, or pathogenic causes can be identified. Soil enzymatic and microbial activities are relevant bio-indicators since they are known to influence vine health. Grapevine associated microbiota, linked to vine fitness, is known to be influenced by soil microbiota coming from the microbial pool inhabiting the vineyard. This work describes the microbial diversity and activity of four different vineyard plots of the Bordeaux region, selected due to the presence of localised declining areas unexplained yet by disease symptoms. Soils were sampled in declining areas and areas within the same plot showing no decline symptoms, during autumn and spring periods. Significant differences in enzymatic activities, microbial biomass and activity were found among soils even if those soils presented quite similar physicochemical characteristics that could not explain these observed declines. The results of enzymatic assays distinguished patterns in autumn and spring periods with an overall greater enzymatic activity in soils from non-declining areas. This work suggests that soils displaying decline symptoms present a dysbiosis in functionality and diversity which is linked to vine health.

Grape berries host a complex microbial community that plays a predominant role in grape quality prior to harvest and in the winemaking process. Like other carpospheric habitats, the epiphytic microbial community of grape berries is influenced by several factors. Climate plays an essential role in grape composition and quality, and its impact on berry microbiota was recently demonstrated. However, there is still a lack of information about how environmental conditions influence the system in grape berries.In this study, the microbial communities of grape berries from two wine appellations characterized by specific climatological conditions were analyzed. The results revealed that the size of cultivable communities (bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi) and the diversity and richness of the microbial community profiles were higher in vineyards found to have lower temperatures. The metabolic activity (Community-Level Physiological Profiles) of the epiphytic microbial community was lower in warm climates. Water activity (aw) had a positive effect on the cultivable population, on metabolic activity, and on microbial diversity.The results showed that the microclimate affects the microbial population associated with grape berries through the aw of grape skins.