Part 2 – Sustainable management of anthracnose in Ecuador
Colletotrichum spp in Ecuador: sustainable alternatives to reduce losses and strengthen resilient agriculture
What is the challenge?
Anthracnose, caused by fungi of the genus Colletotrichum, affects strategic crops such as cocoa, mango, plantain, papaya, and avocado. In provinces such as Guayas and Azuay, species with high virulence have been identified, making its management a permanent technical and productive challenge (Espinoza-Lozano et al., 2025).
The central challenge is not only to control the pathogen but to do so in a sustainable way, avoiding soil degradation, fungicide resistance, and risks to human and environmental health.
Why is it difficult to control?
Conventional management based on chemical fungicides presents several limitations:
Evolution of resistance in species such as C. fructicola and C. siamense, documented after the repeated use of benzimidazoles and other chemical groups (Karim et al., 2024).
- Negative impact of copper and broad-spectrum fungicides on soil microbiota and its long-term fertility (Rodríguez-Velázquez et al., 2025).
Pathogen latency, which allows reinfections even after apparent treatments.
- High biological variability, where different species of Colletotrichum show different responses depending on the crop and environment (Newfeld et al., 2025).
In practice, this explains why isolated chemical applications rarely resolve the problem in a lasting way.
Scientific evidence on sustainable alternatives
Recent research supports the use of biological control as a key strategy within integrated management.
Trichoderma spp.
Various studies show that species such as Trichoderma virens act as effective antagonists against Colletotrichum. In banana, a reduction in anthracnose severity of up to 80% has been reported under controlled conditions, using solid formulations with high spore viability (Madushani et al., 2024). These results confirm that Trichoderma not only inhibits the pathogen but can also be integrated into real production schemes.
Bacillus spp.
Bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus velezensis produce enzymes (chitinases, glucanases, and cellulases) capable of degrading the fungal cell wall, inhibiting the mycelial growth of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Ashwini & Srividya, 2013; Vu et al., 2023).
In addition to their antifungal effect, these microorganisms promote:
better germination,
greater plant vigor,
greater stress tolerance.
Paenibacillus spp.
Paenibacillus has demonstrated multispectrum control against different phytopathogens. In cocoa, its efficacy has been successfully evaluated against diseases caused by Phytophthora tropicalis and Moniliophthora roreri, reinforcing its potential as a component of sustainable management strategies (Rodríguez-Velázquez et al., 2025).
Technology applied to the field
Sustainable management of anthracnose depends not only on biocontrol but also on when and how it is applied.
Smart soil monitoring Digital agriculture tools allow the measurement of key parameters such as humidity, temperature, pH, salinity, and nutrients. Continuous monitoring systems help identify conditions that favor infection before symptoms are visible.
Predictive risk models The integration of climate data, soil sensors, and microbiological knowledge allows for the development of predictive models capable of:
anticipating anthracnose outbreaks,
optimizing the application of bio-inputs,
reducing the unnecessary use of fungicides,
improving agronomic decision-making.
In practical terms, this means moving from reactive agriculture to preventive and evidence-based agriculture.
Complementary agroecological practices
Sustainable control is strengthened when crop management practices are integrated, such as:
sanitary pruning and removal of diseased fruits,
improvement of ventilation to reduce humidity,
balanced nutritional management,
increase of soil microbial diversity.
These practices reduce inoculum pressure and increase the effectiveness of biocontrol.
How does BioNaturaleza® integrate these findings?
At BioNaturaleza® we research and develop solutions that integrate these scientific principles into the field.
Microbial bio-inputs Microlivings® Formulated with selected strains of Bacillus spp., Microlivings® bio-inputs are designed for:
high stability,
proven antifungal efficacy,
compatibility with sustainable integrated management schemes.
ICE³ Intelligent Ecosystem The ICE³ approach integrates:
diagnosis,
prediction,
microbial bio-inputs,
allowing for anthracnose management based on science, measurement, and evidence, rather than isolated applications.
Impact on sustainable agriculture
The integration of biocontrol, biotechnology, and agroecological practices allows for:
reducing the use of chemical fungicides,
decreasing pathogen resistance,
improving soil health,
increasing fruit quality,
increasing agricultural resilience to climate change.
Anthracnose is not managed with single recipes, but with an understanding of the system. The integration of biocontrol, biotechnology, and agroecological practices allows for progress toward a more resilient agriculture, based on evidence and informed decisions in the field.
