Antagonistic and growth-enhancing effect of native Trichoderma spp. on ‘Gros Michel’ banana under Foc R1 infection

Pedro  Terrero Yepez; Rafaela Mayorga Morejon; Paola Rodulfo Acuña; Arianna Mendoza Intriago; Karina Solis Hidalgo; Nicole Factos Laiño

doi:10.17268/agroind.sci.2026.02.09

Autores/as

Pedro Terrero Yepez Estación Experimental Tropical Pichilingue, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Programa Nacional de Banano, Plátano y otras Musáceas. Cantón Mocache, Los Ríos, Ecuador. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4492-4577
Rafaela Mayorga Morejon Estación Experimental Tropical Pichilingue, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Programa Nacional de Banano, Plátano y otras Musáceas. Cantón Mocache, Los Ríos, Ecuador. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2002-3122
Paola Rodulfo Acuña Estación Experimental Tropical Pichilingue, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Programa Nacional de Banano, Plátano y otras Musáceas. Cantón Mocache, Los Ríos, Ecuador. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4697-2752
Arianna Mendoza Intriago Carrera de Agronomía, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo. Quevedo, Ecuador https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7575-9727
Karina Solis Hidalgo Estación Experimental Tropical Pichilingue, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Programa Nacional de Banano, Plátano y otras Musáceas. Cantón Mocache, Los Ríos, Ecuador. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2696-4540
Nicole Factos Laiño Estación Experimental Tropical Pichilingue, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Programa Nacional de Banano, Plátano y otras Musáceas. Cantón Mocache, Los Ríos, Ecuador. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1484-2669

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17268/agroind.sci.2026.02.09

Palabras clave:

Biological control, fungal diseases, rhizosphere microbiota, integrated disease management, Musaceae

Resumen

Banana production in Ecuador has been severely impacted by Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). This persistent soilborne pathogen remains viable for decades and reduces the effectiveness of conventional control strategies. Trichoderma spp. has emerged as a promising biological alternative due to its antagonistic capacity and plant-associated effects. This study evaluated the efficacy of native Trichoderma strains as biological control agents against Foc Race 1 (R1) in Musa AAA cv. Gros Michel. Dual culture assays and greenhouse experiments were conducted using a completely randomized design, with data analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey’s test (α = 0.05). In vitro, T. lixii, T. asperellum, and T. harzianum inhibited up to 58% of Foc radial growth. Under greenhouse conditions, Trichoderma application significantly reduced vascular wilt severity (p < 0.05) and was associated with increased pseudostem diameter and root biomass. T. afroharzianum and T. lixii lowered disease incidence to levels comparable to those of the healthy control. These findings support the potential use of native Trichoderma isolates in sustainable management strategies for Fusarium wilt in banana.

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