IPN designs compound against fungi that damage corn crops

The National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) developed an agrobiological compound, based on bacteria, to combat fungi that affect the growth and rot of corn crops.

The specialist Ignacio Eduardo Maldonado Mendoza, who heads the project, from the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Regional Comprehensive Development (Ciidir), Sinaloa Unit, explained that the fungus Fusarium verticillioides It causes losses of between 70 and 80 percent of the crops in that state.

Meanwhile, researcher Paúl Alán Báez Astorga, from the Laboratory of Molecular Ecology of the Rhizosphere, Ciidir Sinaloa, warned that this fungus carries a high health risk by producing fumonisin, a mycotoxin linked to esophageal cancer and other diseases, such as equine leukoencephalomalacia. and porcine pulmonary edema.

He explained that more than 11,520 microorganisms found in the rhizosphere of corn (soil area close to the roots of a plant) were evaluated as candidates to combat the fungus, using a detection system in 96-well plates, from which 622 potential antagonists to Fusarium verticilloides.

Patent process to start commercialization

The research group took the different corn plants to greenhouse tests and found that the microorganisms that helped them protect against the fungus Fusarium There were three main bacteria: Bacillus megaterium B5, Bacillus cereus B25 y Bacillus subtilis B35.

“The one that presented the best results was B25 (Bacillus cereus), because the incidence and severity of the disease decreased, but it was also observed that it promoted the yield of crops in the field,” highlighted Dr. Báez Astorga.

The working group developed a spore-based powder formulation B25 (Bacillus cereus), highly effective in combating Fusarium verticilloideswhich is in the patent process to begin commercialization.