Co-colonization of Theobroma cacao seedlings with bacterial and fungal endophytes

• Published in: Phytopathology Vol. 98; no. 6; p. S208
• Main Authors: Melnick, R L, Bailey, BA, Strem, MD, Backman, P A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2008
• Subjects: Bacillus; Theobroma cacao; Trichoderma
• ISSN: 0031-949X

Pod yield and quality of Theobroma cacao L. is drastically reduced by infection with cacao diseases. Phytosanitation and chemical controls are often costly and undesirable in an agroforestry system. Previous research has demonstrated that Trichoderma spp. can endophytically colonize cacao seedlings and activate plant defense mechanisms, and that Bacillus spp. endophytically colonizes cacao foliage and reduce disease. The objective of this study was to determine if bacterial and fungal endophytes could be successfully co-applied to cacao seedlings. Successful co-inoculation occurred both through root application of Trichoderma spp. with foliar application of bacteria as well as root application of Trichoderma spp. with seed application of bacteria. With both applications, stems and roots were endophytically colonized by both bacteria and Trichoderma spp. while leaves were only colonized by bacteria. This research opens the opportunity for co-colonization of cacao to enhance biocontrol.