Caracterización molecular de cepas nativas de Bacillus spp. en suelo rizosférico en tres regiones del Perú

The genus Bacillus spp. comprises bacteria widely used as biological control agents against postharvest diseases affecting fruits and vegetables during storage and transportation. These bacteria possess antagonistic activity against several phytopathogens, including Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold disease in strawberries. In the present study, the molecular characterization of Bacillus strains obtained from three regions of Peru — Huaura, Chanchamayo, and Cañete — was carried out. Samples were collected from rhizospheric soils associated with agricultural areas and subsequently subjected to microbiological isolation, molecular analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene, and bioinformatic evaluation. A total of 14 bacterial isolates were obtained, showing genetic identity percentages ranging from 92.05% to 100%. Molecular identification revealed the presence of 1 strain of Bacillus cereus, 1 strain of Bacillus paralicheniformis, 4 strains of Bacillus licheniformis, and 8 strains of Bacillus subtilis. Finally, the evolutionary relationships among the isolates were established through the construction of a phylogenetic tree.