Estudio comparativo de la eficacia de microorganismos en el control de Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense como agente causal de la Fusariosis del banano

Abstract

The impact of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (FocTR4), the causal agent of Fusarium wilt of banana, poses a significant risk to Ecuador, the world's main banana exporter. The presence of beneficial microorganisms in the soil can mitigate the incidence and severity of the disease by reducing the spore load and enhancing the plant’s resistance response. This study aimed to identify microbial strains with inhibitory activity against FocTR4 from two distinct microorganism collections: (1) Liquid Organic Amendments from the province of Guayas and (2) soil, rhizosphere, and pseudostem samples from banana plantations in the province of Bolivar. In vitro assays, including strain confrontation, metabolite evaluation, and inoculum suppression in soil, were conducted, along with pathogenicity tests. These assays facilitated the selection of strains based on their inhibitory capacity against Foc. The most promising strains, exhibiting the highest antagonistic activity against Foc race 1 (FocR1), belong to the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Stenotrophomonas. However, Bacillus strains demonstrated the highest efficacy in controlling the disease in pathogenicity assays. In conclusion, Bacillus spp. strains isolated from organic amendments exhibit the potential to reduce the incidence and severity of Fusarium wilt in banana plants. Keywords: Biocontrol, Beneficial microorganisms, Pathogenicity assays.