Antagonistic activity of bacteria from wild honey against Colletotrichum musae, and testing of wild honey as biopesticide spray to control banana anthracnose

Mark Paul Selda Rivarez,Shajara Fatima M Dimasingkil,Elizabeth P Parac,Benjamin V Cunanan Benjamin V Cunanan,Angelie B Magarro Angelie B Magarro,Niño R Laurel Niño R Laurel

doi:10.14393/bj-v37n0a2021-49921

Mark Paul Selda Rivarez, Shajara Fatima M Dimasingkil + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14393/bj-v37n0a2021-49921

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Abstract

Anthracnose is a foliar and fruit disease caused by Colletotrichum spp. affecting a wide range of crops. Infection occurs early followed by quiescence in fruits, such as in banana, where chemical-based pesticides are used as a dependable fungal control for many years. There is an increasing need for a safe control and as implicated in the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 (RA 10068) in the Philippines. This scenario drove the use of alternative pest control such as the use of biologicals and natural products. In this study, seven bacteria were isolated from wild honey, produced by Apis mellifera, wherein four (BC2, BC3, BC6 and BC7) were found to be an effective antagonist against Colletotrichum musae in in vitro conditions. These bacteria were identified to belong to the genus Lactobacillus spp. (BC2, BC3, BC7) and Bacillus spp. (BC6) based on sugar utilization tests, morphological and cultural growth in PDPA. For the in vivo test, different dilutions of wild honey were used and it was found out that lower concentrations were effective as biopesticide spray to prevent anthracnose infection. Lastly, we report herewith the first isolation of bacteria with biological control potential from wild honey, and to apply the raw or natural product as biopesticide in postharvest fruits.

Highlights

Banana is one of the most important crops in the Philippines having a production of 8.9 million tons in 2014 valuing to 130 billion Pesos (Alvindia et al 2006)
This study evaluated the antimicrobial properties and associated bacteria of wild honey from Mindoro
Bacteria associated with wild honey were isolated in pure culture and were characterized for proper identification up to the genus level

Summary

Introduction

Banana is one of the most important crops in the Philippines having a production of 8.9 million tons in 2014 valuing to 130 billion Pesos (Alvindia et al 2006). Banana belong to the genus Musa and widely distributed from the Pacific to West Africa but are mainly found in the South-East Asian-New Guinea region (Jones 2000). Banana (Musa spp.) is attacked by numerous fungal, bacterial, virus and nematode diseases. One of these diseases is the anthracnose disease that infects banana at the postharvest stage. Anthracnose is a foliar and fruit disease caused by Colletotrichum spp. present in a wide host range including banana. Anthracnose is the name given to a disease that appears as sunken, brown to black lesions found on the peel of bananas during transport, storage and ripening (Jones 2000). The disease arises when dormant infections of the dormant fungus in the green peel is activated as fruit ripens, a phenomenon called quiescence. Banana is a highly perishable fruit that suffers severe postharvest losses both in terms of quality

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