Biocontrol de Fusarium spp. en el cultivo de vainilla: Un nuevo modelo de estudio

Abstract

Biological control is a potential and sustainable option to deal with crop production and yield problems affected by insects or pathogenic microorganisms. In vanilla crop, obtaining the natural scent present in its fruits is limited, mainly by diseases that affect commercial crops. The main disease of vanilla crop is root and stem rot (RSR), caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-vanillae and F. oxysporum f. sp. vanillae. We found that the use of endophytic fungi (EF) isolated from healthy or asymptomatic plants requires systematic research for the selection of the most effective species to control pathogens, particularly in this crop. Additionally, there is no evidence reported with respect to this topic, in spite of, the use of these microorganisms is a natural alternative in other crops, compared to the use of agrochemicals used in traditional agriculture. This review addresses the perspective, and raises the need for research on the potential use of endophytic fungi as biological control agents of fungal pathogens in cultivated plants, emphasizing the relationship Endophytic fungi-Vanilla-pathogenic Fusarium.