Trichoderma Activity in Seed Germination, Promoting Seedling Growth and Rhizocompetence in Tomato Plants

Tomato is one of the most important plant species from an economic and social point of view. Nowadays, there is a growing interest in the use of beneficial microorganisms in agriculture, and some of them are being commercialized as biopesticidal and biofertilizer formulations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of twenty (20) Trichoderma isolates to stimulate seed germination, colonize the roots, and promoting growth on tomato seedlings. In laboratory tests, it was possible to observe germination induction and longer root length, in addition to greater length of hypocotyls. However, in some cases, the presence of cotyledon lesions in the seedlings was observed, but without interference in the number and vigor of seedlings from inoculated seeds. In the greenhouse, the action of isolates as growth promoters was verified, due to the increase in the weight and length of roots and the aerial part of tomato plants. Twelve isolates were selected for the rhizocompetence assay, in which the ability to colonize the rhizosphere and also the plant rhizoplane was observed. None of the tests showed negative results in the evaluated parameters.