Exploración bibliográfica del uso potencial de bacteriófagos para combatir el agente causal de moko bacteriano (Ralstonia solanacearum) en el cultivo de banano

Abstract

Ecuador stands out as one of the world largest banana producers, serving as a fundamental pillar of the country´s economy. However, this crop faces significant challenges due to the presence of bacterial wilt, a disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, which affects the roots and vascular system of plants, leading to wilting and subsequent death of the host. This disease reduces production yields and jeopardizes exports. Traditional control methods have limitations, such as the development of bacterial resistance and negative environmental impacts. For this reason, this study focused on investigating the use of bacteriophages as biocontrol agents to address the disease in banana crops. The research was conducted using a documentary approach, compiling scientific literature published in the last five years from database such as Scopus, PubMed, Scielo, and Web of Science. Additionally, surveys were conducted with experts in the field to gain a broader perspective on the use of phages in agriculture. The results highlight the effectiveness of phage belonging to the podoviridae, myoviridae and inoviridae families, which demonstrated high specific against bacterial wilt and effectiveness under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Mechanisms of action such as bacterial lysis, inhibition of multiplication, and virulence modification were identified, with the latter being a prominent characteristic of lysogenic phages. Additionally, strategies to enhance a phage usage were proposed, including cocktail formulation to improve their stability in agricultural practices. These phages not only provide direct control of the pathogen but also offer environmental advantages by reducing dependence on agrochemicals.