We applied metabolomics analysis to wood tissue samples collected from mature grapevines with established Grapevine Trunk Disease (GTD) and uninfected controls. Selection was dependant on confirming the presence or absence of GTD pathogens by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and next generation sequencing (NGS).
Metabolomics workflows identified groups of significant compounds related to pathogen or host response. We subsequently analysed single node cuttings of grapevines inoculated with fungal ascospores using detached cane assays and tested for successful infection based on these metabolite markers.
We confirm that the chemistry of pathogenic fungal metabolism and plant stress response shows potential for sensing disease in GTD and further development of sensing technologies could utilise such profiles for point of use decision tools.
Ongoing development of metabolomics methodologies, omics integration and data analytics will assist in holobiont research.