Benefits of inoculating tomato with Trichoderma harzianum ITEM 3636

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most popular vegetables worldwide. It is sensitive to low temperatures and is grown under cover (greenhouses) or in the field when the weather allows it. The fresh tomato market, both local and global, must be continuously supplied since world consumption has increased at the rate of 1 kg per inhabitant per year during the last 10 years. Tomato cultivation is intensive, a wide range of pesticides and other chemical inputs are used to ensure successful harvests. The use of ecological strategies to minimize the use of chemical inputs in traditional horticultural practices is the ultimate goal of sustainable horticulture. Several studies have shown that some rhizospheric strains of Trichoderma have direct effects on plants, increasing their potential for growth and nutrient absorption, as well as stimulating plant defenses against biotic and abiotic damage. In the present work, we analyzed the potential of Trichoderma harzianum ITEM 3636 to promote the yield of tomato plants in the field.