Isolados de Trichoderma spp. no controle da podridão-de-esclerócio em tomateiros

Abstract

Fungi of the genus Trichoderma have the ability to stimulate plant growth and suppress phytopathogens, and may be a promising alternative to chemical fungicides of plant diseases. This study evaluated the potential of four isolates of Trichoderma spp., from the state of Amazonas, Brazil, in the control of sclerotium rot (Agroathelia rolfsii) and of six isolates in the promotion of tomato growth, under field conditions. The experiments were conducted in the field and in vitro assays, the enzymatic activity of siderophores, indoleacetic acid (IAA), antagonism and volatile compounds were evaluated by these isolates. The isolate Inpa 2957 stood out by reducing the incidence of the disease to 1.75%, reduced the mycelial growth of A. rolfsii by 89% in paired culture trials and significantly increased tomato yield, reaching a yield of 359.29 g/m2, with a 73.5% increase in yield compared to the control. The isolate Inpa 2473 stood out for its IAA production (60.72 μg·mL−1) and for its ability to inhibit the mycelial growth of Agroathelia rolfsii by 91% through the emission of volatile metabolites, compared to the control without treatment, indicating its potential as a plant growth promoter and biological controller. Based on the results of this study, the isolate Inpa 2957 demonstrated coherence between the performance in the laboratory and in field conditions, where it can be used as an effective alternative for the biological control of sclerotium rot and to increase the productivity of tomato plants in the field. Reinforcing the viability of biological control as a sustainable alternative to the chemical management of the disease, contributing to the reduction of environmental impacts and the strengthening of sustainable agriculture in the Amazon region.