Integrated analyses of the plant and soil microbiome identify Phytopythium vexans as agent of the Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome

Summary

Abstract Background and aims The Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome (KVDS) is a disease that is currently a challenge for kiwifruit production in Italy, and it is spreading in new production areas. However, the causal agent of this syndrome has not been clearly identified, and we still know little about the overall effects of KVDS on the interactions between the host plant and its microbiome. Methods In this study, we combined metabarcoding and targeted isolation (leaf baiting) to characterize the changes in the rhizosphere and root microbiomes associated with symptoms of KVDS. Results Our results suggest that KVDS has little impact on the bacterial, fungal, and oomycete communities associated with soil and roots, and we detected weak signatures of potential dysbiosis. On the other hand, we f