Biostimulant and Nematicidal Effect of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai and Aqueous Extract of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. in Solanum lycopersicum L.

Abstract

The experiment was carried out with the objective of evaluating the biostimulating and nematicidal effect of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai "strain A-34" and aqueous extract of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (neem) in Solanum lycopersicum L. (tomato) cv. "PR-92". Two trials were developed, the first in the seed germination process and the second in potting conditions for the treatments interaction and the inoculation of Meloidogyne spp. with tomato seedlings. The results showed that tomato seeds cv. “PR-92” treated with T. harzianum "A-34" and aqueous extract of neem leaves did not affect the percentages of germination, however, the combined use of the preparations promote the seedlings growth. It was also corroborated that the seedlings infested with Meloiodgyne spp. showed lower means for stem length, total fresh mass and dry mass variables, compared to non-infested ones. As for the regulation of Meloidogyne spp., a reduction of the gill index was achieved in 53.5%, 38.5% and 61.5% for treatments where T. harzianum, neem and their combination were respectively applied with significant differences respect to control.