Changes in Plant Metabolism and Accumulation of Fungal Metabolites in Response to Esca Proper and Apoplexy Expression in the Whole Grapevine

Abstract

Trunk diseases have become among the most important grapevine diseases worldwide. They are caused by fungal pathogens that attack the permanent woody structure of the vines and cause various symptoms in woody and annual organs. This study examined modifications of plant responses in green stem, cordon, and trunk of grapevines expressing Esca proper (E) or apoplexy (A) event, which are the most frequent grapevine trunk disease symptoms observed in Europe. Transcript expression of a set of plant defense- and stress-related genes was monitored by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction while plant phytoalexins and fungal metabolites were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in order to characterize the interaction between the grapevine and trunk disease agents. Expression of genes encoding enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway and trans-resveratrol content were altered in the three organs of diseased plants, especially in the young tissues of A plants. Pathogenesis-related proteins and the antioxidant system were severely modulated in A plants, which indicates a drastic stress effect. In the meantime, fungal polyketides 6-MSA, (R)-mellein, and (3R,4R)-4-hydroxymellein, were accumulated in A plants, which suggests their potential effect on plant metabolism during the appearance of foliar symptoms.