Fungal diseases, Pythium ultimum (Pythium leak) and Helminthosporium solani (silver scurf) have detrimental effects on potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum) quality and yield. Tubers are the world’s fourth largest agricultural food crop and are crucial for feeding a growing population. Bacteria from the genus Streptomyces are known for producing a wide variety of secondary metabolites with antifungal properties. Isolates of Streptomyces have recently shown inhibitory effects towards P. ultimum and H. solani in Petri dish assays. These data suggest that Streptomyces may work as a biocontrol to protect tubers from P. ultimum and H. solani. We tested talc-based powder formulas for their ability to maintain viable Streptomyces spores in storage. The formula that maintained spores the longest was then used to coat varying Streptomyces isolates onto a tuber surface that contained, or would be exposed to P. ultimum or H. solani. Tests were conducted in a lab, greenhouse, and field setting. We found a powder formula that kept 50% of the added Streptomyces spores viable for a period of three to six months depending on the isolate. Isolates with inhibitory effects towards H. solani were applied as a powder on seed tubers infected with H. solani and grown in a greenhouse. Upon completion of the experiment, we found that progeny tubers from neither the treatment nor the control groups contained H. solani. Instead, we found a similar surface pathogen, Colletotrichum coccodes (Black dot), on many of the progeny tubers. While not the target pathogen of this study, some isolates significantly limited C. coccodes compared to the control. This experiment was repeated in a field setting where C. coccodes was again the primary disease found on the progeny tubers. In the field, isolates showed no inhibitory effect towards C. coccodes. Isolates with inhibitory effects towards P. ultimum were applied as a powder onto wounded tubers. One hour later the tubers were exposed to P. ultimum. Isolates did not limit P. ultimum compared to the control after a week of incubation. A follow up experiment revealed that the Streptomyces isolate used needed at least 24 hours of growth to produce antifungal secondary metabolites. Our data suggest that Streptomyces bacteria can easily be stored in a powder and that there are beneficial effects as a biocontrol against C. coccodes. Our data also suggest that timing Streptomyces application for maximum secondary metabolite production may improve its efficacy as a biocontrol.

Soybean crops are vulnerable to a wide range of pathogens that reduce yield and cause extensive losses worldwide. In the United States, the soilborne pathogens Pythium spp., causing soybean damping-off, and Fusarium virguliforme, causing sudden death syndrome (SDS) of soybean, have been among the top diseases that most reduced soybean yields. This study demonstrated that biological control using native fungal antagonists could be a powerful tool to integrate with current management strategies for more efficient control of Pythium damping-off and SDS in soybean. Trichoderma spp. and Clonostachys rosea demonstrated the ability to mycoparasitize and antagonize the pathogens using different mechanisms and exhibited a protective effect on soybean in field conditions. The development of an efficient biological control program for disease management relies on a deep understanding of the BCA-pathogen interaction’s biology. This research also uncovered the molecular mechanisms involved in the F. virguliforme-T. afroharzianum interaction by using a dual RNAseq approach. Significant changes in both fungal organisms’ transcriptomes were discovered at different stages in their interaction. The results provided here can contribute to the future implementation of effective biological control programs for soybean. The benefits may also extend to other crops.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Pythium diseases are common in the greenhouse production of tobacco transplants and can cause up to 70% seedling loss in hydroponic (float-bed) greenhouses. However, the symptoms and consequences of Pythium diseases are often variable among these greenhouses. A tobacco transplant greenhouse survey was conducted in 2017 in order to investigate the sources of this variability, especially the composition and distribution of Pythium communities within greenhouses. The survey revealed twelve Pythium species. Approximately 80% of the surveyed greenhouses harbored Pythium in at least one of four sites within the greenhouse, including the center walkway, weeds, but especially bay water and tobacco seedlings. Pythium dissotocum, followed by P. myriotylum, were the most common species. Pythium myriotylum, P. coloratum, and P. dissotocum were aggressive pathogens that suppressed seed germination and caused root rot, stunting, foliar chlorosis, and death of tobacco seedlings. Pythium aristosporum, P. porphyrae, P. torulosum, P. inflatum, P. irregulare, P. catenulatum, and a different isolate of P. dissotocum, were weak pathogens, causing root symptoms without affecting the upper part of tobacco seedlings. Pythium adhaerens, P. attrantheridium, and P. pectinolyticum did not affect tobacco seeds or seedlings. The consequences of Pythium infection were more likely to be severe when they occurred during seed germination than at seedling emergence, or after plant stem elongation when seedling roots had started to grow into underlying nutrient solutions, depending on the species of Pythium. High and low variation was observed among isolates of P. dissotocum and P. myriotylum, respectively. Pythium myriotylum co-existed with multiple other Pythium or oomycete species in the same environments within tobacco greenhouses, and significant in vitro and/or in vivo interactions between P. myriotylum and some naturally co-existing species were revealed. Pythium porphyrae may have the potential to protect tobacco seeds and seedlings from P. myriotylum infection. Greenhouse Pythium control trials identified ethaboxam, mefenoxam, and copper ionization as potentially promising alternatives to etridiazole for Pythium disease management in tobacco transplant production. The outcomes of this project provide useful new information to better understand the composition, distribution, and diversity of Pythium communities in tobacco transplant greenhouses and to improve Pythium disease management for tobacco transplant production. / Doctor of Philosophy / Pythium diseases are common in tobacco transplant production and can cause up to 70% seedling losses in hydroponic (float-bed) tobacco transplant greenhouses. However, little is known about the composition and distribution of Pythium communities in tobacco transplant greenhouses. This project began with a tobacco transplant greenhouse survey, in which 12 Pythium species were recovered from center walkways, weeds, greenhouse bay water, and tobacco seedlings. Pythium dissotocum and P. myriotylum were the two types (species) of Pythium most commonly found in the survey. Pythium myriotylum, P. coloratum, and P. dissotocum were aggressive pathogens that suppressed seed germination and caused root rot, stunting, foliar chlorosis, and death of tobacco seedlings. Pythium aristosporum, P. porphyrae, P. torulosum, P. inflatum, P. irregulare, P. catenulatum, and an isolate of P. dissotocum, were weak pathogens causing root symptoms without affecting the upper part of tobacco seedlings. Pythium adhaerens, P. attrantheridium, and P. pectinolyticum did not affect tobacco seeds or seedlings. The symptoms caused by infection by Pythium species differed among host (tobacco) growth stages, except for the most aggressive species, P. myriotylum. High levels of variation were observed among isolates of P. dissotocum, in terms of vegetative growth rate (on V8 agar media) and aggressiveness on tobacco seed and seedlings. Pythium myriotylum was found to co-exist with multiple other Pythium or oomycete species (neighbor isolates) in the same environments within tobacco greenhouses. Significant interactions between P. myriotylum and some neighbor isolates were revealed, and these interactions significantly affect the consequences of P. myriotylum infection of tobacco seeds. Greenhouse Pythium control trials identified two chemical water treatments (ethaboxam and mefenoxam), and a non-chemical water treatment (copper ionization) as potentially promising alternatives to the current standard Pythium control (etridiazole) for Pythium disease management in tobacco transplant production. The outcomes of this project provide useful new information to both better understand the composition, distribution, and diversity of Pythium communities in tobacco transplant greenhouses and to improve Pythium disease management for tobacco transplant production.

No description available.

No description available.

Plants produce secondary (or specialized) metabolites to respond to a variety of environmental changes and threats. Especially, volatile compounds released by plants facilitate short and long distance interaction with both beneficial and harmful organisms. Comparatively little is known about the organization and role of specialized metabolism in root tissues. In this study, we have investigated the root-specific formation and function of volatile terpenes in the model plant Arabidopsis. As one objective, we have characterized the two root-specific terpene synthases, TPS22 and TPS25. Both enzymes catalyze the formation of several volatile sesquiterpenes with (E)-β-farnesene as the major product. TPS22 and TPS25 are expressed in the root in distinct different cell type-specific patterns and both genes are induced by jasmonic acid. Unexpectedly, both TPS proteins are localized to mitochondria, demonstrating a subcellular localization of terpene specialized metabolism in compartments other than the cytosol and plastids. (E)-β-Farnesene is produced at low concentrations suggesting posttranslational modifications of the TPS proteins and/or limited substrate availability in mitochondria. We hypothesize that the mitochondrial localization of TPS22 and TPS25 reflects evolutionary plasticity in subcellular compartmentation of TPS proteins with emerging or declining activity. Since (E)-β-farnesene inhibits Arabidopsis root growth in vitro, mitochondrial targeting of both proteins may fine tune (E)-β-farnesene concentrations to prevent possible autotoxic or inhibitory effects of this terpene in vivo. We further investigated the role of volatile terpenes in Arabidopsis roots in interaction with the soil-borne oomycete, Pythium irregulare. Infection of roots with P. irregulare causes emission of the C11-homoterpene (or better called C4-norterpene) 4,8-dimethylnona-1,3,7-triene (DMNT), which is a common volatile induced by biotic stress in aerial parts of plants but was not previously known to be produced in plant roots. We demonstrate that DMNT is synthesized by a novel, root-specific pathway via oxidative degradation of the C30-triterpene, arabidiol. DMNT exhibits inhibitory effects on P. irregulare mycelium growth and oospore germination in vitro. Moreover, arabidiol and DMNT biosynthetic mutants were found to be more susceptible to P. irregulare infection and showed higher rates of Pythium colonization in comparison to wild type plants. Together, our studies demonstrate differences and plasticity in the metabolic organization and function of terpenes in roots in comparison to aboveground plant tissues. / Ph. D.

Este estudo descreve a diversidade de actinobactérias isoladas da esponja marinha Aplysina fulva e o potencial destes microorganismos como produtores de metabólitos bioativos com propriedades fungicidas e herbicidas. Actinobactérias são prolíficas produtoras de compostos farmacologicamente importantes, pois cerca de 70% dos antibióticos naturalmente derivados que estão atualmente em uso clínico são produzidos por estes microorganismos. Entretanto este valor é ainda inexpressivo na indústria agrícola. Agroquímicos sintéticos ainda são dominantes no mercado apesar de estarem menos efetivos contra plantas daninhas e patógenos cada vez mais resistentes. Neste trabalho, um total de 21 actinobactérias foram isoladas com a utilização de meios seletivos. Análises filogenéticas baseadas no sequenciamento parcial do gene que codifica para o rRNA 16S mostrou que estes microorganismos pertencem a oito gêneros do filo Actinobacteria: Kocuria; Citricoccus; Terrabacter; Gordonia; Agrococcus; Tsukamurella; Brevibacterium e Streptomyces. Os extratos de todos os isolados foram testados para verificar a produção de metabólitos secundários com propriedades fungicidas contra os fungos fitopagênicos de importância agrícola: Pythium aphanidermatum; Phytophthora capsici e Magnaporthe grisea. O extrato bruto de 43% dos isolados mostrou atividade fungicida para ao menos um dos patógenos. O perfil químico do extrato dos isolados com bioatividade positiva foram similares mesmo entre gêneros diferentes. Os metabólitos do Streptomyces ASPSP 103 foram mais eficientes devido à forte inibição contra todos os patógenos testados. Portanto este isolado foi selecionado e testado para atividade herbicida por meio de screening que teve início com testes de atividade algicida contra a microalga Selenastrum capricornutum. Acreditamos que actinobactérias associadas a esponjas marinhas desempenham um papel de defesa química contra microalgas que possam obstruir os porócitos asfixiando o animal, e que estes compostos algicidas possivelmente tenham ação herbicida. Foi verificada atividade do extrato bruto do Streptomyces ASPSP 103 contra S. capricornutum, e a atividade herbicida pré-emergência com um efeito fraco em Lactuca sativa (dicotiledônea) e uma forte inibição em Agrostis stolonifera (monocotiledônea). A purificação do extrato bruto para isolamento do composto bioativo foi guiado por bioensaio contra Pythium aphanidermatum, um oomiceto de rápido crescimento e sensível aos metabólitos de ASPSP 103 previamente testados. Foi identificado o composto da classe butenolida com atividade herbicida préemergência contra Agrostis stolonifera (IC50 33.43 μg/mL). Este é o primeiro relato da atividade de butenolida para atividade herbicida. Estudos aprofundados em taxonomia mostraram que as características filogenéticas, morfológicas e químicas do isolado ASPSP 103 são consistentes com o gênero Streptomyces. Portanto devido algumas diferenças em parâmetros taxonômicos, ASPSP 103T foi proposto como linhagem tipo para uma nova espécie de Streptomyces, para qual o nome Streptomyces atlanticus sp. nov. foi sugerido. Estes resultados enfatizam o potencial de Streptomyces marinhos para produzir compostos bioativos com potencial de aplicação em agrobiotecnologia. / Actinobacteria are producers of important pharmacological compounds. About 70% of natural antibiotics are derived from these microorganisms. However, the use of natural compounds are still limited in the agricultural industry, even considering that synthetic pesticides are less effective against pathogens and weed plants. This study describes the diversity of actinobacteria associated with the marine sponge Aplysina fulva and their potential as producers of bioactive compounds with fungicidal and herbicidal properties. In this study, a total of 21 actinomycetes were isolated with the use of selective media. Phylogenetic analyzes based on partial sequencing of the gene encoding for 16S rRNA showed that these microorganisms belong to eight Actinobacteria genera, including Kocuria, Citricoccus, Terrabacter, Gordonia, Agrococcus, Tsukamurella, Brevibacterium and Streptomyces. The extracts of all isolates were tested for the production of secondary metabolites with fungicidal properties against the following phytopathogenic fungi: of Pythium aphanidermatum, Phytophthora capsici and Magnaporthe grisea. The crude extract of 43% of the isolates showed fungicidal activity for at least one of the pathogens. The chemical profiles of the actinobacteria extracts with positive bioactivity were similar even among different genus. The metabolites of Streptomyces ASPSP 103 were more efficient because of the strong inhibition against all tested pathogens. So, the isolate ASPSP 103 was selected and tested for herbicide activity through screening for algaecide activity towards microalgae Selenastrum capricornutum. We believe that actinobacteria associated with marine sponges play a role in chemical defense against algae that can obstruct the pores, choking the animal. These algaecides compounds possibly have herbicide action. Activity of the Streptomyces ASPSP 103 crude extract against S. capricornutum was observed. In addition, it was observed a weak pre-emergence herbicide activity on Lactuca sativa (dicot) and a strong inhibition in Agrostis stolonifera (monocot). The purification of the crude extract to isolate the bioactive compound was guided by bioassay against Pythium aphanidermatum, a fast growing oomycete and sensitive to metabolites from ASPSP 103 previously tested. The butenolide compound was identified with pre-emergence herbicidal activity against Agrostis stolonifera (IC50 33.43 μg/mL). This is the first report of butenolide activity with herbicide activity. Taxonomy studies showed that the phylogenetic, morphological and chemical characteristics of the isolated ASPSP 103 are consistent with the Streptomyces genus. Then, considering some differences in taxonomic parameters, ASPSP 103T was proposed as line type for a new species of Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces atlanticus sp. nov. was suggested. These results emphasize the potential of marine Streptomyces to produce bioactive compounds with potential biotechnological application in agricultural industry.

Este estudo descreve a diversidade de actinobactérias isoladas da esponja marinha Aplysina fulva e o potencial destes microorganismos como produtores de metabólitos bioativos com propriedades fungicidas e herbicidas. Actinobactérias são prolíficas produtoras de compostos farmacologicamente importantes, pois cerca de 70% dos antibióticos naturalmente derivados que estão atualmente em uso clínico são produzidos por estes microorganismos. Entretanto este valor é ainda inexpressivo na indústria agrícola. Agroquímicos sintéticos ainda são dominantes no mercado apesar de estarem menos efetivos contra plantas daninhas e patógenos cada vez mais resistentes. Neste trabalho, um total de 21 actinobactérias foram isoladas com a utilização de meios seletivos. Análises filogenéticas baseadas no sequenciamento parcial do gene que codifica para o rRNA 16S mostrou que estes microorganismos pertencem a oito gêneros do filo Actinobacteria: Kocuria; Citricoccus; Terrabacter; Gordonia; Agrococcus; Tsukamurella; Brevibacterium e Streptomyces. Os extratos de todos os isolados foram testados para verificar a produção de metabólitos secundários com propriedades fungicidas contra os fungos fitopagênicos de importância agrícola: Pythium aphanidermatum; Phytophthora capsici e Magnaporthe grisea. O extrato bruto de 43% dos isolados mostrou atividade fungicida para ao menos um dos patógenos. O perfil químico do extrato dos isolados com bioatividade positiva foram similares mesmo entre gêneros diferentes. Os metabólitos do Streptomyces ASPSP 103 foram mais eficientes devido à forte inibição contra todos os patógenos testados. Portanto este isolado foi selecionado e testado para atividade herbicida por meio de screening que teve início com testes de atividade algicida contra a microalga Selenastrum capricornutum. Acreditamos que actinobactérias associadas a esponjas marinhas desempenham um papel de defesa química contra microalgas que possam obstruir os porócitos asfixiando o animal, e que estes compostos algicidas possivelmente tenham ação herbicida. Foi verificada atividade do extrato bruto do Streptomyces ASPSP 103 contra S. capricornutum, e a atividade herbicida pré-emergência com um efeito fraco em Lactuca sativa (dicotiledônea) e uma forte inibição em Agrostis stolonifera (monocotiledônea). A purificação do extrato bruto para isolamento do composto bioativo foi guiado por bioensaio contra Pythium aphanidermatum, um oomiceto de rápido crescimento e sensível aos metabólitos de ASPSP 103 previamente testados. Foi identificado o composto da classe butenolida com atividade herbicida préemergência contra Agrostis stolonifera (IC50 33.43 μg/mL). Este é o primeiro relato da atividade de butenolida para atividade herbicida. Estudos aprofundados em taxonomia mostraram que as características filogenéticas, morfológicas e químicas do isolado ASPSP 103 são consistentes com o gênero Streptomyces. Portanto devido algumas diferenças em parâmetros taxonômicos, ASPSP 103T foi proposto como linhagem tipo para uma nova espécie de Streptomyces, para qual o nome Streptomyces atlanticus sp. nov. foi sugerido. Estes resultados enfatizam o potencial de Streptomyces marinhos para produzir compostos bioativos com potencial de aplicação em agrobiotecnologia. / Actinobacteria are producers of important pharmacological compounds. About 70% of natural antibiotics are derived from these microorganisms. However, the use of natural compounds are still limited in the agricultural industry, even considering that synthetic pesticides are less effective against pathogens and weed plants. This study describes the diversity of actinobacteria associated with the marine sponge Aplysina fulva and their potential as producers of bioactive compounds with fungicidal and herbicidal properties. In this study, a total of 21 actinomycetes were isolated with the use of selective media. Phylogenetic analyzes based on partial sequencing of the gene encoding for 16S rRNA showed that these microorganisms belong to eight Actinobacteria genera, including Kocuria, Citricoccus, Terrabacter, Gordonia, Agrococcus, Tsukamurella, Brevibacterium and Streptomyces. The extracts of all isolates were tested for the production of secondary metabolites with fungicidal properties against the following phytopathogenic fungi: of Pythium aphanidermatum, Phytophthora capsici and Magnaporthe grisea. The crude extract of 43% of the isolates showed fungicidal activity for at least one of the pathogens. The chemical profiles of the actinobacteria extracts with positive bioactivity were similar even among different genus. The metabolites of Streptomyces ASPSP 103 were more efficient because of the strong inhibition against all tested pathogens. So, the isolate ASPSP 103 was selected and tested for herbicide activity through screening for algaecide activity towards microalgae Selenastrum capricornutum. We believe that actinobacteria associated with marine sponges play a role in chemical defense against algae that can obstruct the pores, choking the animal. These algaecides compounds possibly have herbicide action. Activity of the Streptomyces ASPSP 103 crude extract against S. capricornutum was observed. In addition, it was observed a weak pre-emergence herbicide activity on Lactuca sativa (dicot) and a strong inhibition in Agrostis stolonifera (monocot). The purification of the crude extract to isolate the bioactive compound was guided by bioassay against Pythium aphanidermatum, a fast growing oomycete and sensitive to metabolites from ASPSP 103 previously tested. The butenolide compound was identified with pre-emergence herbicidal activity against Agrostis stolonifera (IC50 33.43 μg/mL). This is the first report of butenolide activity with herbicide activity. Taxonomy studies showed that the phylogenetic, morphological and chemical characteristics of the isolated ASPSP 103 are consistent with the Streptomyces genus. Then, considering some differences in taxonomic parameters, ASPSP 103T was proposed as line type for a new species of Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces atlanticus sp. nov. was suggested. These results emphasize the potential of marine Streptomyces to produce bioactive compounds with potential biotechnological application in agricultural industry.

Les recherches sur la lutte biologique (ou biocontrôle) par utilisation de micro-organismes connaissent un essor remarquable, les applications au champ étant cependant encore limitées en raison des variations d’efficacité dans la protection des plantes. Celles-ci sont souvent imputées à la non persistance des agents de biocontrôle dans la rhizosphère ou sur le végétal qu’ils sont censés protéger. Afin de réduire ce risque, une solution consiste à utiliser des micro-organismes isolés du végétal que l’on souhaite protéger. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, Pythium oligandrum, un oomycète colonisateur de la rhizosphère de nombreuses plantes dont la vigne, a été étudié pour lutter contre l’esca, une maladie du bois de la vigne pour laquelle il n’existe actuellement aucune méthode de lutte disponible. Des souches de P. oligandrum ont été isolées de la rhizosphère de ceps cultivés dans 3 régions viticoles (12 vignobles) du Bordelais présentant des sols variés : argilo-calcaire, sable-graveleux et graveleux. Les analyses des communautés fongiques et bactériennes obtenues par empreinte moléculaire (Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism) ont montré que, contrairement aux bactéries, les espèces fongiques différaient selon les régions. Des Pythium spp. aux oospores échinulées ont été isolées à partir des racines des ceps échantillonnés, avec une prédominance de P. oligandrum (séquençage de la région ITS). L’analyse des séquences des gènes codant pour le cytochrome oxydase I et une tubuline a permis de constituer 3 groupes de souches. Le séquençage d’autres gènes codant pour des protéines « élicitines-like » a indiqué que chaque souche présentait au moins un gène codant pour chacun des 2 types d’éliciteurs de P. oligandrum : l’oligandrine et les protéines de la paroi cellulaire (CWPs). Il apparaît que le type de sol et la microflore associée à la rhizosphère n’exerceraient pas une influence suffisante pour que la structure génétique des populations de P. oligandrum soient associées à un contexte tellurique particulier. En revanche, le type de porte-greffe et la méthode de désherbage (chimique ou mécanique) pourraient avoir une incidence sur la colonisation racinaire par P. oligandrum. Les relations entre P. oligandrum et les racines de la vigne ont été étudiées par analyse transcriptomique (microarray Vitis vinifera de 29 549 gènes). Les résultats obtenus montrent que de jeunes plants de vigne ont répondu à la colonisation racinaire par P. oligandrum en modifiant l’expression de gènes intervenant dans plusieurs voies métaboliques. Deux aspects a priori opposés ont été observés : P. oligandrum serait perçu comme (1) un agresseur contre lequel la plante a mis en place des réactions de défense mais en même temps, comme (2) un micro-organisme symbiotique car un certain nombre de modifications transcriptionnelles étaient similaires à celles reportées dans les interactions rhyzosphèriques symbiotiques (e.g. forte stimulation de gènes codant pour des subtilases). Un essai visant à induire chez la vigne une protection contre un champignon pathogène impliqué dans l’esca, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, grâce à P. oligandrum, a été réalisé. La colonisation des racines par P. oligandrum a été associée à une réduction de la longueur des nécroses dues à P. chlamydospora. En adéquation avec ce résultat, l’analyse transcriptomique par RT-PCRq et microarrays a montré une surexpression de la voie de l’éthylène. Plusieurs gènes spécifiquement induits constitueraient des marqueurs de résistance qu’il conviendra de valider lors de prochaines expérimentations. / Biocontrol research based on the use of microorganisms is expanding very rapidly. However, the use of such bioncontrol agents is still too inconsistent to effectively protect plants in field applications. This phenomenon is often attributed to the non-persistence of biocontrol agents in the rhizosphere or on the plants. In order to reduce the risk of this happening, one solution consists in using microorganisms that are isolated from the plants needing protection. In this thesis, an oomycete called Pythium oligandrum, which colonizes the rhizosphere of many plants, including grapevine, was assessed for the control of esca, a grapevine trunk disease for which no control method is currently available. P. oligandrum strains have been isolated from the rhizosphere of vines cultivated in 3 wine-growing regions (12 grapevines) of Bordeaux with different types of soil: stony-sandy, silty and stony. Analyses of fungal and bacterial communities using a molecular fingerprinting method (Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism) showed that, unlike bacteria, the fungal species varied according to the sampling region. Roots of all the vines sampled were colonized by echinulated-oospore Pythium spp., with P. oligandrum strains predominating. Phylogenetic analyses based on the genes encoding the cytochrome oxidase I and one tubulin allowed these strains to be clustered into three groups. The sequencing of the elicitin-like genes, whose proteins are key components in inducing systemic resistance in plants, showed that each strain held at least one gene encoding for each of the two kinds of P. oligandrum elicitors (i.e. oligandrin and Cell Wall Proteins). Sequencing and molecular fingerprinting analyses showed thus that the type of soil and the rhizosphere microbiota did not shape the population structure of P. oligandrum. However, other factors such as the different kinds of rootstock and weeding management can also have an influence on the root colonization by P. oligandrum. The relationship between P. oligandrum and grapevine was studied using a transcriptomic approach (microarray Vitis vinifera, 29 549 genes). The results highlighted the modifications induced by young vines in response to P. oligandrum root colonization, in the genetic expression of several genes belonging to different metabolic pathways. Two aspects, that are usually opposed, were observed: P. oligandrum was perceived by the plant either (i) as a pathogen because certain defence reactions were triggered (e.g. calcium signalling, resistance genes, abscissic acid metabolism) or as (ii) a symbiotic microorganism since several transcriptional changes were similar to those reported in symbiotic interactions (e.g. induction of subtilase genes). An assay aimed at protecting grapevine against a pathogenic fungus involved in esca, and known to be responsible for wood necrosis, i.e. Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, was carried out. The root colonization by P. oligandrum was associated with a reduction in the length of necroses. In line with this result, transcriptomic analyses by microarrays and RT-qPCR showed overexpression of several genes, particularly those of the ethylene pathway. Some of these induced genes could be thus used as resistance markers, but this needs to be validated in further experiments.