Characterization of genetic determinants of the resistance to phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, and the dagger nematode Xiphinema index from muscadine background.

BACKGROUND: Muscadine (Muscadinia rotundifolia) is known as a resistance source to many pests and diseases in grapevine. The genetics of its resistance to two major grapevine pests, the phylloxera D. vitifoliae and the dagger nematode X. index, vector of the Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), was investigated in a backcross progeny between the F1 resistant hybrid material VRH8771 (Vitis-Muscadinia) derived from the muscadine R source 'NC184-4' and V. vinifera cv. 'Cabernet-Sauvignon' (CS). RESULTS: In this pseudo-testcross, parental maps were constructed using simple-sequence repeats markers and single nucleotide polymorphism markers from a GBS approach. For the VRH8771 map, 2271 SNP and 135 SSR markers were assembled, resulting in 19 linkage groups (LG) and an average distance between markers of 0.98 cM. Phylloxera resistance was assessed by monitoring root nodosity number in an in planta experiment and larval development in a root in vitro assay. Nematode resistance was studied using 10-12 month long tests for the selection of durable resistance and rating criteria based on nematode reproduction factor and gall index. A major QTL for phylloxera larval development, explaining more than 70% of the total variance and co-localizing with a QTL for nodosity number, was identified on LG 7 and designated RDV6. Additional QTLs were detected on LG 3 (RDV7) and LG 10 (RDV8), depending on the in planta or in vitro experiments, suggesting that various loci may influence or modulate nodosity formation and larval development. Using a Bulked Segregant Analysis approach and a proportion test, markers clustered in three regions on LG 9, LG 10 and LG 18 were shown to be associated to the nematode resistant phenotype. QTL analysis confirmed the results and QTLs were thus designated respectively XiR2, XiR3 and XiR4, although a LOD-score below the significant threshold value was obtained for the QTL on LG 18. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a high-resolution linkage map and a segregating grapevine backcross progeny, the first QTLs for resistance to D. vitifoliae and to X. index were identified from a muscadine source. All together these results open the way to the development of marker-assisted selection in grapevine rootstock breeding programs based on muscadine derived resistance to phylloxera and to X. index in order to delay GFLV transmission.

Exploring the Phytobeneficial and Biocontrol Capacities of Endophytic Bacteria Isolated from Hybrid Vanilla Pods.

In this study, 58 endophytic bacterial strains were isolated from pods of two hybrid vanilla plants from Madagascar, Manitra ampotony and Tsy taitra. They were genetically characterized and divided into four distinct phylotypes. Three were associated to genus Bacillus species, and the fourth to the genus Curtobacterium. A selection of twelve strains corresponding to the identified genetic diversity were tested in vitro for four phytobeneficial capacities: phosphate solubilisation, free nitrogen fixation, and phytohormone and siderophore production. They were also evaluated in vitro for their ability to biocontrol the growth of the vanilla pathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis vanillae and Cholletotrichum orchidophilum. Three bacteria of phylotype 4, m62a, m64 and m65, showed a high nitrogen fixation capacity in vitro, similar to the Pseudomonas florescens F113 bacterium used as a control (phospate solubilizing efficiency respectively 0.50 ± 0.07, 0.43 ± 0.07 and 0.40 ± 0.06 against 0.48 ± 0.03). Strain t2 related to B. subtilis showed a higher siderophore production than F113 (respectively 1.40 ± 0.1 AU and 1.2 ± 0.1 AU). The strain m72, associated with phylotype 2, showed the highest rate of production of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in vitro. Bacteria belonging to the pylotype 4 showed the best capacity to inhibit fungal growth, especially the strains m62b m64 and t24, which also induced a significant zone of inhibition, suggesting that they may be good candidates for controlling fungal diseases of vanilla. This competence was highlighted with spectral imaging showing the production of lipopeptides (Iturin A2 and A3, C16 and C15-Fengycin A and C14 and C15-Surfactin) by the bacterial strains m65 confronted with the pathogenic fungi of vanilla.