Characterization of phytopathogenic diseases in tree tomato (Solanum betaceum) crops at the El Repos farm in the municipality of Facatativá, Cundinamarca.

Abstract

Tree tomato (Solanum betaceum) cultivation is one of the most important crops in cold climates. This fruit crop enjoys high demand both domestically and internationally, as it possesses a high nutritional value. One of the main limitations of this crop are pathogenic diseases and nutritional deficiencies, which occur in the leaves and fruit, decreasing the photosynthetic capacity of the leaf and impairing fruit quality (size, color, and texture). With this in mind, the objective of this research was to evaluate the incidence and severity of these diseases, and also to characterize the causative agents in tree tomato cultivation in order to recommend a control method. The research was carried out on the Reposo farm located in the La Tribuna area, Facatativá municipality, which has a productive plantation of 150 plants. Two visits were made, the first to prepare a diagnosis and establish a sampling system, the second a sampling was carried out to take data (diseased plants, number of diseased leaves per tree and diseased area per leaf), additionally leaf samples were collected. Subsequently, in the laboratory, the pertinent tests were carried out for the characterization of the causal agents, for the identification of fungi the lactophenol blue staining technique was used, for bacteria the gran staining technique was carried out and for nematodes the Baermann method was performed. The results showed the presence of nematodes and pathogens such as Alternaria sp. and Colletotrichum sp., characterized as the causal agents of primary and secondary diseases. In addition, a high incidence was found in the crop but a low severity, which allowed management with copper oxychloride to be established, in order to keep the young leaves healthy and to be able to take care of the crop until its productive end.