Development of a molecular approach to describe the diversity of fungal endophytes in either phytoplasma infected, recovered or healthy grapevines.

Fungal endophytes have been reported to have antagonistic effect against fungal, bacteria and other adversities affecting plants. In this work we used a "synergy" of culture-dependent and culture-independent methods that allowed to maximize the determination of grapevine fungal endophytic species. Starting from 21 morphospecies of endophytes, identified by a culture-dependent method, we were able to obtain a total of 55 OTUs by the joint application of a culture-independent method. This study also permitted to determine that seven main fungal endophyte genera represent about 82% of total grapevine endophytic fungal community. Furthermore, we set up a novel molecular fingerprinting technique, DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis), which proved to be a rapid and reliable tool to identify the variability within grapevine fungal endophytic community. With this innovative approach we will attempt to determine and compare fungal endophytic diversity respectively in healthy, and phytoplasma infected or recovered grapevines.