INPEPTICIDE pursues the replacement of pesticides used to control the AGL vector of FDp, which is the causative agent of an economically relevant grapevine disease, FD.
* How relevant is the challenge?
FDp is a priority quarantine pest in the EU, causing major economic losses in grape/wine production, including in Portugal where it mostly hits the Northwestern region. FD is an incurable disease that, alongside Esca, are the biggest menaces for viticulture.
The only effective tool to control FD is use of toxic, non-selective and environmentally persistent pesticides against the AGL. While there are no effective, ecofriendly alternatives to those pesticides, growers have no other option than using them, otherwise their crops will be severely affected. However, the mandatory application of these insecticides is causing imbalances in the ecosystems, favoring emergence of pests that were naturally controlled, thus forcing the application of more treatments in an escalation of spraying. Viticulture is amongst the agricultural activities with the heaviest use of pesticides; reduced use has been tried, but production drops were observed (Fouillet et al., 2022). Thus, finding new biopesticides to tackle FD is the only way forward towards sustainable viticulture.
* How ambitious and beyond the state of the art is INPEPTICIDE?
We will investigate the value of Trichoderma spp. (TCD) and derived peptaibols as biocontrol agents for AGL, given that TCD-based products are already used on grapevine pruning wounds to avoid fungal trunk diseases. Insecticidal action of TCD against crop plant pests has been reported but very little explored, and never addressed for AGL. Thus, INPEPTICIDE is clearly beyond the state of the art. It is also an ambitious initiative, by pursuing the following objectives (O) in the next 3 years:
O1 - produce and characterize TCD extracts (integral and peptaibol-rich);
O2 - set up an indoor culture of AGL, using potted grapevines;
O3 - rank the test products for their toxicity/selectivity on AGL (nymph, and adult stages) and non-target insects;
O4 - probe phytotoxic effects of the test products on grapevines, to identify the best candidate (showing the best balance between insecticidal and phytotoxic effects);
O5 - evaluate the impacts of the best candidate on plant primary metabolism and oxidative stress;
O6 - demonstrate the efficacy of the best candidate bioinsecticide in semi-field conditions.
INPEPTICIDE will thus dwell between and across chemistry, biology, and biotechnology. We join experts in:
(i) chemistry of biomolecules, including TCD-derived peptaibols (PI, MJA, RBP, RF);
(ii) crop plant biotechnology, including establishment of in-house cultures of sucking-biting vectors of phloem- or xylem-restricted pathogens, and testing of bioinsecticides in-lab and in semi-field conditions (AA, PS); and
(iii) plant molecular biology for assessment of the effects of test compounds on plant biofunctional parameters (JT). Hence, we are quite able to attain our ambitious goals and generate impactful deliverables. Major (but not only) ones will be: a year-round indoor culture of AGL; TCD extracts with well-defined composition; and a TCD-based bioinsecticide safe and effective for use against the AGL in viticulture, which is unprecedented. Therefore, INPEPTICIDE is a disruptive yet solid approach with a predictably strong impact not only in the advancement of knowledge but also to future eco-sustainable practices in viticulture. |