Optimization of <i>Paenibacillus</i> sp. NMA1017 Application as a Biocontrol Agent for <i>Phytophthora tropicalis</i> and <i>Moniliophthora roreri</i> in Cacao-Growing Fields in Chiapas, Mexico
Irene Gómez-de la Cruz,
Belén Chávez-Ramírez,
Carlos Hugo Avendaño-Arrazate,
Yolanda Elizabeth Morales-García,
Jesús Muñoz-Rojas,
Paulina Estrada-de los Santos
Affiliations
Irene Gómez-de la Cruz
Laboratorio de Biotecnología Microbiana, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomas, Alcaldía Miguel Hidalgo 11340, Ciudad de México, Mexico
Belén Chávez-Ramírez
Laboratorio de Fitopatología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomas, Alcaldía Miguel Hidalgo 11340, Ciudad de México, Mexico
Carlos Hugo Avendaño-Arrazate
Campo Experimental Rosario Izapa, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Km 18, Carretera Tapachula-Cacahoatán, Tuxtla Chico 30870, Chiapas, Mexico
Yolanda Elizabeth Morales-García
Ecology and Survival of Microoganisms Gropu, Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Microbiológicas, Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, San Manuel, Puebla 72570, Puebla, Mexico
Jesús Muñoz-Rojas
Ecology and Survival of Microoganisms Gropu, Laboratorio de Ecología Microbiana, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Microbiológicas, Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, San Manuel, Puebla 72570, Puebla, Mexico
Paulina Estrada-de los Santos
Laboratorio de Biotecnología Microbiana, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prolongación Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n, Col. Santo Tomas, Alcaldía Miguel Hidalgo 11340, Ciudad de México, Mexico
In Mexico, cacao production is endangered by pathogenic fungi, such as Phytophthora spp. and Moniliophthora rorei, that cause black pod rot and moniliasis, respectively. In this study the biocontrol agent Paenibacillus sp. NMA1017 was tested in cacao fields against the previous diseases. The treatments applied were shade management, inoculation of the bacterial strain with or without an adherent, and use of chemical control. The statistical analysis showed that the incidence of black pod rot in tagged cacao trees diminished when the bacterium was applied (reduction of 44.24 to 19.11%). The same result was observed with moniliasis when the pods were tagged (reduction of 66.6 to 27%). The use of Paenibacillus sp. NMA1017 with an integrated management might be a solution to cacao diseases and to having a sustainable production of cacao in Mexico.
