Culture-Dependent and Molecular Characterization of Bacteria Associated with Banana Fruits in Puerto Rico.

The genus Musa spp. encompasses significant global food crops, including bananas and plantains, which play an essential role in the economies, nutrition, and culinary practices of developing countries. Nonetheless, Musa spp. face threats from abiotic and biotic stressors, including phytopathogens. Consequently, exploring cultivable bacteria on fruits is vital for understanding bacterial ecological dynamics. Isolates were characterized using culture-dependent techniques: 16S rDNA barcoding and functional prediction, phylogenetic analysis, and morphological approaches. This exploratory study identified three isolates associated with plants and the environment. Future research should conduct larger surveys and genomic analyses around the island to understand bacterial ecology in bananas.