Activities

The leading partner (UniBO) will take care of project management, organizing and coordinating the activities of the two research units. The main aims of the project management are to guarantee that EMERGE can reach the planned goals, in compliance with both the budget and the timescale foreseen, the organisation of periodical meetings between the research units and the reporting activity to MIUR.

In this WP the effect of compost application will be evaluated on grape plants grown in semi-controlled conditions. Within the activities of the present WP, grapevine plants will be cultivated in pots and subjected to the different treatments (non fertilized control, mineral fertilization and compost from winery sludge). The impact of compost application will be evaluated on the molecular responses of grapevine root and berries and the microbial community associated with the rhizosphere and berries, in order to shed light on the molecular mechanisms underpinning plants responses. Furthermore, the influence of the treatments will be evaluated on soil fertility and plant physiology, to further corroborate the beneficial effects of compost applications on agronomical aspects.

The present WP will be conducted on field grown grapevine plants subjected to the different treatments (the same as in WP2) since 2019. WP3 will investigate the impact of long-term compost application on the molecular responses of grapevine root and berries and the microbial community associated with the rhizosphere and berries, in order to understand the molecular mechanisms induced by amendments. In addition, the influence of treatments will be evaluated on soil fertility parameters and plant physiology and nutritional status. Furthermore, to evidence the influence of microbial community on the final product, the main quality and sensory characteristic of wines will be evaluated in relation to the different fertilization strategies.

The close interaction between the two research units will aim at sharing and integrating the datasets obtained by means of different techniques in similar experimental designs, characterized by a different level of complexity.

Results will be published in leading peer reviewed scientific journals, presented at international scientific conferences. Moreover, a final workshop involving farmers and stakeholders will be organised.