Revisión de hongos asociados al cultivo de variedades de banano (Musa spp.) con potencial biotecnológico para el desarrollo de inoculantes

Abstract

Abstract:Banana is a tropical fruit consumed worldwide. The banana production is an important income in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Recently, banana crops have been affected by the attack of pathogens overly aggressive such as Fusarium oxysporum and Mycosphaerella fijiensis. To mitigate the effect of these fungi, an extensive use of agrochemicals is the selected strategy. There is a worldwide concern about the situation of banana crops, therefore being necessary environmental-friendly alternatives to cope with actual threats. Ecuador is one of the main banana producers in the world, so it is essential to innovate the production system through the implementation of biologically sustainable alternatives to minimize the environmental impact and warranty the productivity. The present review aims to consolidate key information on fungi associated with banana, including isolation and introduction techniques of endophytes. Finally, relevant research on biotechnological strategies based on endophytic and mycorrhizal fungi to improve banana production, is included. We aimed that this review would provide insights for experimental research in the design of fungal inoculants.