Incidencia y distribución de cactus virus x y schlumbergera virus x en plantaciones de pitahaya (hylocereus sp.) en la provincia de Pichincha

Abstract

In Ecuador, pitahaya crop has increased in recent years, by 60% in 2021 compared to 2020. However, there are several phytosanitary problems that can reduce pitahaya production, due to lack of information on Cactus virus X and Schlumbergera virus X in pitahaya (Hylocereus sp.) crops in Pichincha province. Therefore, this current investigation aimed to determine the incidence and distribution of these viruses. The methodology consisted of two phases: field and laboratory, and a random sampling was carried out directed to cladodes that presented characteristic symptoms of the viruses such as mottling, chlorotic rings, yellowing and deformations that will be considered as affected plants and an analysis of incidence and severity was carried out in nine farms of the canton Pedro Vicente Maldonado, For the distribution of the viruses, viral RNA extraction was obtained according to the protocol proposed by Quito in 2023, after which complementary DNA synthesis was carried out using the FastGene Scriptase II cDNA kit and for the RT-PCR tests with specific primers, the FastGene TAG 2x ReadyMix PCR kit was used according to the protocol proposed by the manufacturer, and finally sequencing and molecular analysis was carried out using the Mega_X programme. By using this methodology, the level of incidence at plant level and the distribution of Schlumbergera virus X was determined. It is concluded that the presence of Cactus virus X was not found in the farms in study, while Schlumbergera virus X was detected in six of them, with 30 % in the farm number two in the canton mentioned above.