ABSTRACT
Worldwide, vineyards sustainability is threatened by grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) trunk diseases (GTD), which spread insidiously, irreversibly degrading internal trunk tissues and ultimately entailing vine death. Foliar symptoms can erratically appear, but the sanitary status of vines cannot be ascertained without injuring the plants. To tackle this challenge, we developed a novel approach based on multimodal 4D imaging and artificial intelligence (AI)-based image processing that allowed a non-invasive GTD diagnosis. Each imaging modality contribution to tissue discrimination was evaluated, and we identified quantitative structural and physiological markers characterizing wood degradation. The combined study of the anatomical distribution of degraded tissues and the foliar symptom history of plants collected in a vineyard in Champagne, France, demonstrated that white rot and intact tissue contents were key measurements. We finally proposed a model for an accurate GTD diagnosis. This work opens new routes for precision agriculture by permitting field monitoring of GTD and surveying plant health in situ.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.