Influencia de trichoderma y extractos botánicos para el control de sigatoka negra en musas spp.

Abstract

The thesis "Influence of Trichoderma and Botanical Extracts for the Control of Black Sigatoka in Musas Spp." investigates biological methods for managing Black Sigatoka, a disease that severely affects banana crops. Conducted at the "Santa Inés" farm of the Technical University of Machala, the research evaluated the use of Trichoderma spp. and cinnamon extracts as alternatives to the chemical fungicide Mancozeb. Eleven treatments with four repetitions were designed, measuring the percentage of affected leaf area (AFA) and the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). Although Mancozeb was the most effective, biological treatments combining Trichoderma cultivated for 144 hours with 25% cinnamon extract also significantly reduced disease severity. These results suggest that while chemical fungicides are more effective, biological alternatives offer a more sustainable approach to managing Black Sigatoka. The thesis concludes that it is essential to continue researching these biological treatments to optimize their effectiveness and reduce dependence on chemical products, thus promoting more ecological and sustainable agricultural practices in banana production.