ABSTRACT Tomato is an important economic crop due to its consumption and production worldwide. However, like other crops, it is susceptible to pathogens, being necessary agrochemicals to prevent diseases and improve the production of fruits. Among the sustainable alternatives to crop production, microbial inoculants are used as biofungicide and biostimulants for plant development. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the biocontrol potential of seven Trichoderma spp. isolates (T1, T2, T3, T4, T15, T17, and T19) against tomato pathogens in vitro experiments, and their potential to improve tomato growth. The Trichoderma spp. antagonism was investigated against Alternaria sp. 003/09, Botrytis sp. 006/13, Fusarium sp. 007/09, and Stemphylium sp. A73. Dual culture, volatile, and diffusible compounds activity tests showed that all new Trichoderma spp. tested could reduce the mycelial growth of all tested pathogens, highlighting T15 and T17 isolates. Seed and soil inoculation revealed very contrasting results: Trichoderma sp. T17 showed a beneficial effect when inoculated in soil, reducing the percentage of yellowish leaves, and increasing dry weight and stem diameter. Inoculation of Trichoderma sp. T17 in the seed increases hypocotyl and radicle lengths, and the seed vigor index. Finally, the strains studied present the potential to be used to develop biocontrol products.

Segmentos nodais de plantas adultas de Salvia guaranitica cultivadas em estufa, foram utilizados para avaliar o efeito do meio de cultivo e reguladores de crescimento na micropropagação. A maior taxa de multiplicação foi obtida em meio Murashige and Skoog (MS) suplementado com 2.22 µM de 6-benzilaminopurina (BAP). A melhor condição para enraizamento foi o meio MS acrescido de 2.85 µM de ácido indol-3-acético (IAA). Plântulas enraizadas foram aclimatizadas com sucesso e exibiram desenvolvimento normal até a fase adulta. Utilizando o protocolo descrito, aproximadamente 35 plantas por explante foram obtidas após 3 meses.

Nodal segments from greenhouse grown adult plants of Salvia guaranitica were used to evaluate the effect of culture media and growth regulators on the micropropagation and growth. The highest multiplication rate was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.22 µM of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The best condition for rooting was MS medium with 2.85 µM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Rooted plants were successfully acclimatized and exhibited a normal development until maturity. Using the described protocol, approximately 35 plants per explant were obtained after three months.