Phytopathological Challenges of Corm Rot in Papa China in the Colombian Pacific

Colocasia esculenta, also known as Chinese taro or taro, is a crop of great importance for the Colombian Pacific region. However, it is threatened by corm rot, which affects the food security of Afro-descendant and indigenous communities in the area. This study aimed to identify some of the phytopathogenic agents responsible for this disease and explore their control using an aqueous extract of Dysphania ambrosioides (paico). Through morphological analyses and ITS gene sequencing, two fungi responsible for the rot were identified: Fusarium solani and Mycoleptodiscus suttonii, and their roles as causal agents of the rot were confirmed in greenhouse experiments. Paico proved effective in controlling the growth of these fungi, with concentrations of 12.5% and 17.5% for M. suttonii, and 17.5% for F. solani. These findings highlight the importance of organic control to ensure food security and sustainable production in vulnerable areas of Colombia, emphasizing the relevance of this study for local communities.