Isolation and Characterization of <i>Trichoderma</i> spp. for Antagonistic Activity against Avocado (<i>Persea americana</i> Mill) Fruit Pathogens
María Estela López-López,
Carmen Lizette Del-Toro-Sánchez,
Melesio Gutiérrez-Lomelí,
Salvador Ochoa-Ascencio,
José Antonio Aguilar-López,
Miguel Angel Robles-García,
Maribel Plascencia-Jatomea,
Ariadna Thalia Bernal-Mercado,
Oliviert Martínez-Cruz,
María Guadalupe Ávila-Novoa,
Jean Pierre González-Gómez,
Pedro Javier Guerrero-Medina
Affiliations
María Estela López-López
Microbial and Food Biotechnology Research Center, Cienega University Center, University of Guadalajara, University Avenue 1115, Ocotlan 47820, Mexico
Carmen Lizette Del-Toro-Sánchez
Department of Research and Postgraduate Studies in Food, University of Sonora, Rosales and Niños Heroes Avenue S/N, Hermosillo 83000, Mexico
Melesio Gutiérrez-Lomelí
Microbial and Food Biotechnology Research Center, Cienega University Center, University of Guadalajara, University Avenue 1115, Ocotlan 47820, Mexico
Salvador Ochoa-Ascencio
Faculty of Agrobiology “President Juárez”, Michoacan University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Uruapan Campus, Paseo Lázaro Cárdenas 2290, Emiliano Zapata, Melchor Ocampo, Uruapan 60170, Mexico
José Antonio Aguilar-López
Coordination of Food Genomics, University of Ciénega del Estado de Michoacán de Ocampo, Universidad Avenue 3000, Lomas de la Universidad, Sahuayo 59103, Mexico
Miguel Angel Robles-García
Microbial and Food Biotechnology Research Center, Cienega University Center, University of Guadalajara, University Avenue 1115, Ocotlan 47820, Mexico
Maribel Plascencia-Jatomea
Department of Research and Postgraduate Studies in Food, University of Sonora, Rosales and Niños Heroes Avenue S/N, Hermosillo 83000, Mexico
Ariadna Thalia Bernal-Mercado
Department of Research and Postgraduate Studies in Food, University of Sonora, Rosales and Niños Heroes Avenue S/N, Hermosillo 83000, Mexico
Oliviert Martínez-Cruz
Department of Research and Postgraduate Studies in Food, University of Sonora, Rosales and Niños Heroes Avenue S/N, Hermosillo 83000, Mexico
María Guadalupe Ávila-Novoa
Microbial and Food Biotechnology Research Center, Cienega University Center, University of Guadalajara, University Avenue 1115, Ocotlan 47820, Mexico
Jean Pierre González-Gómez
National Laboratory for Food Safety Research, Food and Development Research Center, Carretera a Eldorado Km 5.5, Culiacan 80110, Mexico
Pedro Javier Guerrero-Medina
Microbial and Food Biotechnology Research Center, Cienega University Center, University of Guadalajara, University Avenue 1115, Ocotlan 47820, Mexico
In this research, we aimed to isolate and identify native strains of Trichoderma spp. with potential activity against avocado pathogens (Neofusicoccum parvum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Diaporthe sp., and Phomopsis perseae). Strains of Trichoderma spp. were isolated from roots and soil obtained from avocado orchards from different regions of Mexico. Twenty-five Trichoderma spp. strains were isolated, of which six (TSMICH7, TSMICH8, TRMICH9, TSMICH10, TSMICH15, and TRJAL25) showed greater antagonistic capacity in vitro (>80%) against avocado pathogens. After 96 h, the antagonistic strain undergoes a thickening of hyphae, while the phytopathogen tends to thin, except for Diaporthe sp., which tends to thicken. The characterization of these strains was carried out through morphological observations and the amplification and sequencing of rDNA fragments (ITS regions), as well as the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (Tef 1-α), achieving the identification of Trichoderma harzianum. However, in the in vivo evaluation (applying directly to the avocado fruit), the TSMICH7 strain maintained considerably high effectiveness (>90%) against the four phytopathogens tested, mainly with P. perseae, N. parvum, and Diaporthe sp., increasing the activity of glucanases and chitinases. Therefore, T. harzianum could be used as a biological control agent to inhibit post-harvest pathogens in avocados, thus avoiding significant losses of this fruit of international importance.
