Resumen

BOLIVAR, Ángela; TORO, Marcia; SANDOVAL, Maria Fernanda  y  LOPEZ, Marisol. Environmental and socioeconomic importance of mycorrhizae in cocoa crop case: cata farm, Ocumare of the gold coast, Aragua state, Venezuela. Agronomía Trop. [online]. 2009, vol.59, n.4, pp.491-501. ISSN 0002-192X.

In the north coastal region of Cata, Ocumare of the Gold Coast in Aragua state, Venezuela, a case study was conducted in the Cata Farm, between coordinates 10 º 30 '00''N, 67° 45' 00''67 º 37 '00''W. L. The purpose were: a) to study the environmental and socioeconomic importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in cocoa plantations, Theobroma cacao L., b) to know the natural status of mycorrhizae in cocoa plants; c) to promote, between farmers, the knowledge, application, protection, conservation and use of these fungi in cocoa plantations. For the socioeconomic study, a universe of 32 farmers qualitative research techniques. The presence of AMF, was evaluated in soil samples collected at rhizosphere level in three cocoa lots. With regard to socio-economic aspect, the results indicate that 68.76% of the farmers recognized the cocoa as the most important economic activity in a direct way; and about the benefits of mycorrhiza in the cocoa agrosystem, 56.25% of them identified the contribution of phosphorus and 43,75% believe that this symbiosis increase production and can reduce problems that affect the crop. In relation to the natural status of mycorrhizae, all samples showed mycorrhized roots; however, % of mycorrhized root length varied between 2.8 and 13.3 %, theses values can be considered low in relation to other cocoa agroecosystems

Palabras clave : Sustainable agroecosystems; cocoa; Theobroma cacao L; socio-economic; micorrhizae.