Physiological and molecular drivers of Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome: microbial community shifts, defence gene expression, and hormone dynamics

Summary

This integrative study reveals Kiwifruit Vine Decline Syndrome as a systems-level disorder characterised by progressive microbial dysbiosis in the root endosphere, sustained upregulation of defence genes, and temporal imbalance in growth-promoting and stress-response hormones. Symptomatic vines exhibited dysbiotic, destabilised microbial consortia alongside chronically activated immune signalling and antagonistic phytohormone interactions, whilst asymptomatic plants maintained richer, more resilient microbial communities. The authors propose that targeting microbiome management, hormonal coordination, and immune pathway reinforcement offers potential for long-term disease control and improved crop resilience.

Regional applicability

Kiwifruit production in the United Kingdom is limited and primarily concentrated in southern England under protected cultivation. Findings would be directly applicable if KVDS emerges as a threat to UK kiwifruit production; however, transferability to temperate British soil and climate conditions would require validation. The systems-level approach to understanding plant–pathogen–microbiome interactions may inform broader strategies for managing soil-borne vine diseases in UK horticulture.

Key measures

Root endosphere microbiome composition (bacterial and fungal), transcriptomic expression of defence-related genes, quantification of phytohormones (gibberellins, IAA, cytokinins, GA3, 6-BA, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, abscisic acid)

Outcomes reported

The study characterised microbial community structure, defence gene expression patterns, and phytohormone profiles in healthy versus symptomatic kiwifruit roots across two phenological stages. Findings revealed dysbiotic microbial configurations, sustained immune activation, and dysregulated hormonal crosstalk associated with disease progression.

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