Identification of fungal disease in Vainilla planofolia Jacks plants in the central zone of the state of Veracruz.

Abstract

The state of Veracruz is the main producer of vanilla in Mexico. In recent years, this crop has been seriously affected by serious phytosanitary problems caused mainly by fungal pathogens. For this reason, it was proposed to develop the present work with the objective of determining the causal agents of the disease, incidence, and severity observed in a vanilla plantation located in the locality "El Palmar," Municipality Emiliano Zapata, Veracruz. A census sampling was carried out on one hectare of the plantation to determine the incidence of the disease. Disease severity per plant was determined using a 4-grade scale. Leaves and stems with disease symptoms were collected for morphological description of the pathogenic agents by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed the presence of two species of phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vanillae and Puccinia sinanoemea, known to cause root rot and rust diseases in vanilla. The infection culminated in the deaths of most of the plantation workers. The incidence was classified as severe (4-grade), with 80% infestation by both pathogens. This study contributes to understanding the phytosanitary problems faced by the crop with mixed infections of fungal pathogens.