OSCAR CHENCHE,GUSTAVO MARTÌNEZ-VALENZUELA ,JAIME DAVID SEVILLA CARRASCO,RAUL RICKY MINCHALA HIDALGO
DOI: https://doi.org/The use of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as biocontrol agents represents a promising and sustainable approach to combating emerging phytopathogens. In this study, the antifungal potential of a consortium of Lactobacillus nagelii, L. fermentum, and L. brevis, isolated from cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) mucilage in the Guayas province of Ecuador, was evaluated against Nigrospora osmanthi, a fungus associated with wilt and foliar lesions in banana crops. Fungal identification was confirmed through morphological analysis and ITS sequencing, while LAB strains were characterized using 16S metagenomic sequencing. The in vitro interaction between the LAB consortium and N. osmanthi showed significant inhibition of radial fungal growth, with an average reduction of 43.2% after five days of incubation. Additionally, fungal growth kinetics was obtained according to the Baranyi model, revealing a decrease in the maximum specific growth rate (μmax) in the presence of LAB. Metagenomic analysis revealed a predominance of Lactobacillus spp., including genes associated with organic acid and bacteriocin production. This study highlights the potential of LAB consortia as a biotechnological alternative for managing phytopathogenic fungi in banana agroecosystems.
