New chitosan formulation prevents grapevine powdery mildew infection and improves polyphenol content and free radical scavenging activity of grape and wine.
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2011
Citazione:
New chitosan formulation prevents grapevine powdery mildew infection and improves polyphenol content and free radical scavenging activity of grape and wine. / M. Iriti, S. Vitalini,G. Di Tommaso, S. D'Amico, M. Borgo, F. Faoro. - In: AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF GRAPE AND WINE RESEARCH. - ISSN 1322-7130. - 17:2(2011), pp. 263-269.
Abstract:
Background and Aims: Chitosan, a chitin deacetylated derivative, is a biopolymer able to elicit the plant defence
machinery against a variety of pathogens. In crop protection, it is successfully employed for its low toxicity, mainly
against virus diseases. In this study, the efficacy of a new chitosan formulation (Kendal Cops® (Kc)) was evaluated
in grapevine against powdery mildew infection. Total polyphenol (TP) content and antiradical power of different
grape tissues and of experimental wines produced from treated grapes were also assessed.
Methods and Results: Field treatments with different Kc dilutions or with Kc alternated or mixed with fungicides,
or with fungicides alone (penconazole and methyldinocap) were carried out in an experimental vineyard of the cv.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Kc was effective in controlling powdery mildew, particularly at the concentration of 0.1%,
even under high disease pressure conditions. In this case, disease severity was 2.39% in treated grapes, compared
with 87.5 and 0.92% in untreated and conventional fungicide-treated grapevines, respectively. TP content, measured
by Folin–Ciocalteau colorimetric assay, was significantly higher in all Kc-treated grape tissues, compared with both
untreated controls and fungicide-treated grapes. A similar trend was reported with regard to the antioxidant activity,
assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycryl hydrazyl free radical scavenging test. Analysis of wines showed that both TPs and
antiradical power were significantly higher in wines made from Kc-treated grapes compared with fungicide-treated
ones.
Conclusions: Kc not only protected grapevine from powdery mildew but also improved TP content and antioxidant
activity in both grapes and wine.
Significance of the Study: The possibility of using plant defence inducers in crop protection deserves particular
attention because of their low environmental impact and of their ability to improve some quality traits of plant
foodstuffs. Furthermore, in contrast to fungicides, they hardly select resistant pathogen strains and do not incur
fitness costs for the plant.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
chitosan ; functional food ; grapes ; nutraceutical ; powdery mildew ; wine
Elenco autori:
M. Iriti, S. Vitalini,G. Di Tommaso, S. D'Amico, M. Borgo, F. Faoro
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