Trichoderma asperellum: persistencia en el suelo bajo distintos métodos de aplicación en cultivo de banano

Persistence after soil application of Trichoderma asperellum is a determining factor for its efficacy as a biocontrol and biostimulant agent in sustainable agricultural production systems. This study evaluated the persistence of Trichoderma asperellum in the rhizosphere of banana crops after six consecutive monthly applications with 5 treatments and a control: T0 (absolute control), T1 (powder inoculum), T2 (powder inoculum with SLL technology), T3 (powder inoculum + biochar), T4 (inoculum diluted in water), and T5 (inoculum with amino acids). The variables evaluated were the percentage of Trichoderma asperellum colonies persistence every 30 days, the weight of live, diseased, dead, and total roots, plant-parasitic nematode populations, and bunch weight. The results indicated that treatment T2 promoted greater fungal persistence, with greater rhizospheric colonization, a significant increase in healthy root mass, a decrease in diseased/dead roots, and notable reductions in plant pathogenic nematode populations, especially R. similis. A significant improvement in productivity was also observed. These results suggest that the SLL technology formulation improves inoculant persistence in the soil, enhancing the beneficial effects of Trichoderma asperellum on soil health and banana crop yield.