Strain‐specific monitoring of
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
AH2
in strawberry fields using a specific molecular marker
M Mercedes Maldonado‐González, Julio Rodríguez‐Romero, Jonatan C Campillo‐Brocal, Pedro R Molina‐Guevara, María Sánchez‐García, Laura Martínez‐Pozuelo, Antonio Bernal‐Soro, María A Ayllón Abstract
BACKGROUND
The biocontrol agent Bacillus amyloliquefaciens AH2 is effective against Botrytis cinerea in strawberry crops. However, evaluating its actual field establishment is challenging owing to variable environmental stressors and the presence of diverse native Bacillus populations. Because conventional markers often fail to distinguish introduced commercial strains from native microbiota, this study aimed to develop a highly specific TaqMan quantitative polymerase chain rection (qPCR) assay to monitor B . amyloliquefaciens AH2 under real field conditions.
RESULTS
The assay targets a unique polymorphic region of the class I S ‐adenosyl‐
CONCLUSION
This strain‐specific qPCR assay provides a foundational molecular tool for tracking B . amyloliquefaciens AH2 population dynamics and ensuring product traceability. Although future studies incorporating disease incidence data are required, this monitoring capability represents a crucial first step toward optimizing application strategies within the framework of precision agriculture. Furthermore, this hsdM ‐targeted approach serves as a blueprint for developing analogous tracking tools for other commercial microbial inoculants. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.