A New Active Substance Derived from Lyzed Willaertia magna C2c Maky Cells to Fight Grapevine Downy Mildew

Abstract

Downy mildew of grapevine is one of the most destructive grapevine diseases worldwide. Nowadays, downy mildew control relies almost exclusively on the use of chemical pesticides, including copper products, which are efficient but controversial due to their environmental toxicity. Natural plant protection products have become important solutions in the quest for the sustainable production of food and pest management. However, most biocontrol agents currently on the market, such as biofungicides or elicitors, have a limited efficacy; thus, they cannot replace chemical compounds in full. Our innovation is a natural active substance, which is a lysate of the amoeba Willaertia magna C2c Maky. This active substance is not only able to elicit grapevine defenses, but it also demonstrates direct fungicidal activity against Plasmopara viticola. The efficacy of this new natural substance was demonstrated both in a greenhouse and in a field. The amoeba lysate provided up to 77% protection to grapevine bunches in the field in a natural and safe way.

A New Biocontrol Tool to Fight Potato Late Blight Based on Willaertia magna C2c Maky Lysate

“…C2c activity against plant pathogens was previously demonstrated on grape downy mildew. Its efficacy was explained by a conjunction of plant defense gene stimulation and antifungal activity [ 11 ]. The same approach was used against PLB, and the activation of potato defense genes was demonstrated by the raw substance AXP10 and by the two formulations AXP12 and AXP13 ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…In this context, Amoéba, an innovative French company, has developed a natural active substance to control plant diseases: the lysate of the amoeba Willaertia magna C2c Maky (C2c). Its efficacy is based on a dual mode of action (elicitation of plant defenses and anti-germinative properties) and was initially demonstrated on grape downy mildew [ 11 ]. Many conventional fungicides that are effective against Plasmopara viticola (responsible for grape downy mildew) can also control P. infestans .…”

Control of Grapevine Downy Mildew by an Italian Copper Chabasite-Rich Zeolitite

“…Therefore, studies on beneficial microorganisms and natural substances are being carried out. Specific studies are focused on the reduction in the use of cupric fungicides to limit the environmental impact of copper in the soil, following the EC regulations 1981/2018 [24,[26][27][28][29]. In particular, some studies assessed alternatives to copper or new formulations with lower copper content [30].…”

“…On the basis of previous encouraging results against grey mold and sour rot, the present study, carried out in a vineyard of Abruzzo region, investigated the activity of a copper chabasite-rich zeolitite for the control of P. viticola. The use of a formulation with a reduced copper content compared to other traditional cupric formulations is an added value of the product, especially because of the restriction of the use of copper compounds in the vineyard [23,24].…”

A grapevine by-product extract enriched in oligomerised stilbenes to control downy mildews: focus on its modes of action towards <i>Plasmopara viticola</i>

“…To benefit from the ability of stilbenes to control diseases, preparations with solvents, emulsifiers, safeners and adjuvants etc., are required to allow these active compounds to counteract adverse climatic conditions (Martinez et al, 1989;Hazra and Purkait, 2019). Eco-friendly formulations have to be developed as the ones based on lipid-related products (e.g., resins or vegetable oils) (Demanèche et al, 2020;Erdogan et al, 2019). Surfactants such as Tween 20 can help encapsulate hydrophobic compounds by forming emulsions with ethanol (Baranauskaite et al, 2019).…”