Lysobacter capsici AZ78 can be combined with copper to effectively control Plasmopara viticola on grapevine

The bacterial genus Lysobacter represents a still underdeveloped source of biocontrol agents able to protect plants against pathogenic oomycetes. In this work the L. capsici strain AZ78 was evaluated with regard to the biological control of Plasmopara viticola, the causal agent of grapevine downy mildew. L. capsici AZ78 is able to resist copper ions and its resistance to this metal is probably due to the presence of genes coding for copper oxidase (copA) and copper exporting PIB-type ATPases (ctpA). The presence of both genes was also detected in other members of the Lysobacter genus. Resistance to copper allowed L. capsici AZ78 to be combined with a low-dose of a copper-based fungicide, leading to more effective control of grapevine downy mildew. Notably, prophylactic application of L. capsici AZ78 alone to grapevine leaves reduced downy mildew disease to the same degree as a copper-based fungicide. Furthermore, L. capsici AZ78 persists in the phyllosphere of grapevine plants and tolerates environmental stresses such as starvation, freezing, mild heat shock and UV light irradiation. These traits suggest that L. capsici AZ78 could be a suitable candidate for developing a new biofungicide to be used in combination with copper to control grapevine downy mildew.