On December 11, 2024, at CaixaForum in Madrid, the Plataforma Tecnológica del Vino (PTV) awarded the prize in the "Individual R&D&I Project" category to the CSIC researcher Raquel Campos-Herrera from the Institute of Grapevine and Wine Sciences (ICVV), for her leadership in the project “SOS-VINE: New strategies for managing persistent and emerging arthropod pests in vineyards and their impact on grape quality” (PID2019-104112RB-I00), funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation under the 2019 Research Challenges call.
The SOS-VINE project demonstrated, through multidisciplinary research, the great potential of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) as a sustainable tool for managing vineyard pests and diseases. Among the key findings, it was observed that the effectiveness of EPNs against the pests Lobesia botrana and Philaenus spumarius, and proved compatibility with fungicides and optimized costs for winegrowers. In addition, it was observed the possible postharvest control of Botrytis cinerea using volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by EPN symbiotic bacteria. Also, it was investigated the induced resistance in grapevines against airborne threats through the application of EPNs in the soil. Finally, a positive impact on grape must quality—observed for the first time—modulated by the action of EPNs and their bacteria.
Among the project's most notable achievements is the registration of a patent on volatiles derived from Photorhabdus laumondii and their applications (ref. PCT/EP2024/055277), as well as the potential direct implementation of EPNs to control key vineyard pests. The work of the IN-Vid group in SOS-VINE positions EPNs and their bacteria as innovative and sustainable solutions, also applicable to organic production. This significantly expands the tools available for managing vineyard pests and diseases.
More information: https://www.ptvino.com/es/premios-ptv-innovacion-2024
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