Mycoparasitic antagonism of a Trichoderma harzianum strain isolated from banana plants in Oaxaca, Mexico

Resumen

Bananas are important crops in developing countries with tropical climate. In Mexico, the banana production has increased, and it must be guaranteed. The Panama disease,caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense threatens the current banana production, for what is necessary to implement methods to protect this crop. Fungi from genus Trichoderma are natural residents of the rhizosphere, which comprises mycoparasite species used to control diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi, and also benefit plant development. Here, we report a novel Trichoderma harzianum strain identified by optical microscopy and by DNA sequencing of 3 loci. The antagonistic capacity towards causal fungi of Panama disease was demonstrated by in vitro confrontation assay and co-inoculation in roots of ‘plátano manzano’ plants. Therefore, this fungus can be enabled to obtain organic formulations for biological control that contribute to produce pathogen-free plants and healthy and high quality fruits.