Quantifying Fungal Abundances In Vineyard Soils

Biodynamic farming is essential to the quality of the food being grown and sustainability of the land. It promotes a self-sustaining environment and increases soil fertility, especially since it considers the aspects of the land that are already optimal for growth. However, crops may be more susceptible to pathogens. A potential solution to fungal pathogens is to increase the concentration of beneficial fungi in the soil, with the goal of outcompeting the pathogens. To assess whether specific farming practices increased fungal loads in the soil, we took two samples from each of six rows in a vineyard in Sherwood, OR. DNA was extracted from these samples and then run through a novel qPCR assay that quantifies fungal abundance. Results suggested that fungal abundance was successfully able to detect and quantify fungal DNA in soil samples. We would anticipate higher fungal loads in the fall, when soil moisture is higher. Fall ‘24 samples are significantly higher than the Summer ‘24 samples, in support of this hypothesis.