SustWine linking wine typicity, biodiversity, and environmental matrix

This study investigates the relationship between environmental matrices, insect vectors, and yeast biodiversity in vineyard ecosystems, aiming to understand how surrounding landscape features influence microbial communities essential for grape fermentation and wine quality. Provided that previous studies highlighted the fundamental role of insects as yeast vectors in natural settings, to fulfill this challenging task it was pivotal to explore the diversity of insects and their mycobiota. By linking ecological, molecular, and oenological approaches, this work provided insights into the vineyard-forest mosaic landscape and its role in shaping microbial communities essential for winemaking. The first objective was to determine whether proximity to wooded areas affects vineyard mycobiota. Wasps were collected from six vineyards paired by distance to forests, and yeasts from their guts were identified using PCR-RFLP and Sanger sequencing. Statistical analysis showed that wasps from vineyards near forests carried more diverse and abundant yeast populations. Building on this foundation, a broader range of environmental variables was considered across 51 vineyards, integrating data on soil, grape varieties, and management practices using GIS. Six representative vineyards were selected for biodiversity assessments of arthropods and their associated mycobiota. A total of 170 yeast isolates from 18 species were identified, with specific associations observed between insect orders and yeast species. To support accurate species-level identification, molecular methods were optimized and a PCR-RFLP database was developed along with an online tool (FId – Fungal Identifier), enabling the identification of over 1,400 yeast species. Overall, the findings highlighted the importance of vineyard-forest mosaics in preserving insect and yeast biodiversity. By offering practical strategies to promote ecological balance, this work contributes to sustainable winemaking practices and addresses global challenges in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem sustainability.