Evaluación del potencial biocontrolador de cepas bacterianas aisladas de suelos antárticos y fermentados de variedades de cacao en cultivos de pitahaya roja (SELENICEREUS UNDATUS) Y BANANO (MUSA SPP.)

Abstract

The present study evaluates the biocontrol potential of bacterial strains isolated from Antarctic soils and fermented from cocoa varieties, against phytopathogenic fungi obtained from fruits or crops of red pitahaya (Selenicereus undatus) and banana (Musa spp.) deposited in the Crop Collection CCM-CIBE microbials. The methodology used is based on an exploratory design, which begins with the qualitative in vitro evaluation of selected bacterial strains in confrontation with the pathogenic fungi Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium globosum, Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae, Curvularia alcornii, Curvularia cactivara, and Fusarium falciforme. The dual culture assays allowed the identification of promising bacteria for the determination of the percentage and zone of inhibition. Through statistical analysis, the antagonistic activity of the different strains with biocontrol potential was compared, selecting those with the highest inhibition index. The measurements allowed us to identify that Bacillus genus had better results for the group of cocoa fermented bacteria, with inhibition percentages greater than 50%. On the other hand, Pseudomonas genus belonging to Antarctic bacteria presented inhibition percentages greater than 40%. Finally, this research contributes significantly to the study of bacterial strains as biological control, setting precedents for future research and development in subsequent stages of application within the agricultural industry.