Trichoderma asperellum for seedlings against fusariosis of cucumber

Abstract

The fusariosis of cucumber is a disease with difficult control and the use of antagonistic fungi is an alternative to the integrated management of diseases. The objective of the research was to investigate the action of T. asperellum in the development and protection of seedlings against fusariosis of cucumber. Germination and emergence tests and the development of seedlings were conducted and evaluated, with seeds treated with three isolates and mix (mixture of three isolates) of T. asperellum. To evaluate the control of fusariosis of cucumber, experiments were performed using seed treatment with isolates of T. asperellum and Rhodiaurum fungicide. It was conducted another experiment with transplanted seedlings croped in substrate or seeds treated with isolates of T. asperellum. It was not observed significant differences for germination and emergence of cucumber, but the isolate TA1 T. asperellum showed greater development of the plant. In the experiments with seed treatment isolates of T. asperellum and fungicide showed significant levels of control. But the isolate TA3 exhibited high incidence of fusariosis (87%), in one of the experiments. The microbiolization showed reduction of 30% in the incidence of fusariosis relationed with the treatment of the substrate, in the transplant of seedlings. It was concluded that isolates of T. asperellum may be indicated, especially in seed treatments against fusariosis of cucumber. The isolates of T. asperellum tested do not interfere in the germination, emergence and development of seedlings of cucumber.