Abstract text: The leaf surfaces of living plants play critical roles in several aspects of plant biology and crop production and crop quality. They contribute to crop biomass yield, and grain and fruit filling with photosynthates. However, they are also threatened by several pests and pathogens, as well as by different abiotic factors. The outermost surfaces of leaves consist of an intricate lipid and polysaccharide biomatrix layer, which hosts the phyllosphere (and above ground surfaces) microbiome. Recently, the concept of cell wall – cuticle continuum has emerged as an interesting lens to better understand the functional organization of microbial community networks in the leaf
phyllosphere. Assessing the role of the leaf cell wall – cuticle continuum in crops, including grapevine, may help to better understand their colonization by microorganisms, particularly bacteria.
This is important if we are to promote the use of beneficial microorganisms such as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), as a sustainable alternative in agriculture.
In this study we have characterized the grapevine leaf cell wall – cuticle continuum and assessed the effects of cell wall and cuticle components on the colonization of leaf surfaces by two PGPRs (i.e., Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis), and upon application of seaweed-based extracts.