Pectobacterium chrysanthemi is the causative agent of soft rot that commonly affects organic banana crops around the planet. Current phytosanitary control policies are based on the symptoms caused by the disease. However, since there are other species that cause similar symptoms, pathogenicity tests are used to which biochemical tests must be added to identify the bacteria, dispensing with molecular tests that, in contrast, would allow obtaining more specific results and in less time. time. This article presents an alternative methodology for the rapid and specific diagnosis of soft rot caused by Pectobacterium chrysanthemi in organic banana crops in Peru. Detection by virulence of the bacteria in host tissue of Solanum tuberosum and PCR of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the 16S/23S rDNA allows timely management of the disease. The results demonstrate that in the complex between the pathogenicity test and the ITS-16S/23S PCR assay it is possible to detect Pectobacterium chrysanthemi in a period of 8 days, 3 hours and 15 minutes, demonstrating that this method is more efficient than conventional tests. biochemical tests usually used for the diagnosis of soft rot in Musa sp.

Varias áreas cacaoteras del Perú reportan elevadas concentracionesde cadmio (Cd) en sussuelos y frutos,restringiendo las exportaciones de estasregiones. En este estudio se evaluóel potencial remediador de la especie Ricinus communisy deun consorcio bacterianode cepasnativasaisladas de suelos cacaoteros naturalmente contaminadosconCd. Se aplicó un diseño factorial 3x3, teniendo como variablesel tiempo de tratamiento(1, 2 y 3 meses) (factor A), los grupos experimentales(G1, Ricinus; G2,Ricinus + consorcio bacteriano yG3, consorcio bacteriano)(factor B)y las concentraciones de Cd(1,02 ppm, 1,64 ppm y 2,22 ppm) (factor C). De acuerdo con el análisis estadístico los meses de evaluación (segúnel orden demayor a menor reducciónde Cd)presentaron la siguiente tendencia: mes 3, mes 2y mes 1. Finalmente, se concluye que el orden de mayor reducción de Cd en los grupos experimentales fue el siguiente: G2, G1 y G3 y alcontrastar lavariación de las tasas de remediación entre el mes 3 y el mes1, la mayor efectividad se presentó al3er mes de evaluación con el grupo experimental conformado por el Ricinus más el consorcio bacteriano a 2,22ppm de Cd.

Neltuma pallida is a multi-purpose tree species of the seasonally dry tropical forests of northern Peru, where it provides essential ecological and socioeconomic functions. However, recurrent defoliation associated with the cecidomyiid gall midge Enallodiplosis discordis may compromise early seedling establishment and the success of forest restoration programs. This study evaluated the effects of larval infestation on foliar integrity and established quantitative damage thresholds in N. pallida seedlings under dry forest conditions. Insects collected from naturally infested plants were identified using an integrative taxonomic approach that combined classical morphological diagnosis with COI-based DNA barcoding obtained by Sanger sequencing. Morphological assessment assigned the defoliating dipteran to E. discordis, while BLASTn v2.17.0. analysis of the 576-bp partial COI sequence showed 92.6% identity and 100% query coverage with Cecidomyiidae records, supporting its taxonomic placement within this family. Field bioassays conducted over a 17-week period, in which 25 individual seedlings were evaluated (N = 25), revealed a strong and significant positive correlation between larval density and foliar damage percentage (r = 0.872; p < 0.001), with moderate damage levels predominating throughout the evaluation period. Despite sustained larval presence, seedlings did not reach severe damage categories, suggesting potential relative tolerance to partial defoliation under the evaluated field conditions. Temperature and relative humidity were not significantly associated with infestation intensity or foliar damage during the study period. Overall, these findings indicate that E. discordis-associated foliar damage represents a relevant, although not necessarily lethal, biotic constraint for the early regeneration of N. pallida under the field conditions assessed. The quantitative thresholds reported here provide useful criteria for dry forest restoration programs, phytosanitary monitoring, and integrated pest management strategies in the Peruvian dry forest.