Ferrum sulphuricum CONTROLLING POWDERY MILDEW ON TOMATO GENOTYPES

Abstract

ABSTRACT Powdery mildew is an important disease in tomato, which requires technologies for its control. Homeopathy is a science that has been improved as an alternative method in agriculture. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the homeopathic medicine Ferrum sulphuricum in 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96CH dynamizations on powdery mildew control. The experiment was conducted from May to June 2013 in a greenhouse, in split-split- plot design, and the results were compared with the controls 30% ethanol and distilled water. We evaluated the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), relative chlorophyll index (SPAD), influence on plant growth by volume and mass of roots, and mass of fruits and shoots and even the pathogen sporulation on leaves. For the AUDPC, all the dynamizations reduced the disease. The Santa Clara genotype showed up to 41% less and Cedro 31% less disease compared with the control ethanol, in the upper third of the plant. For the SPAD index, there was an increase of up to 322% in the middle third of the plant treated with 24CH dynamization. For the growth variables, all the dynamizations increased up to 197% the volume and weight of roots for Cedro and Santa Clara. The 6, 12, 24, 72 and 96CH dynamizations reduced the pathogen sporulation on Santa Clara tomato leaves by up to 40%. The data indicate that the medicine Ferrum sulphuricum can control powdery mildew on tomato, increase the growth of plants and that there is a differential response according to the host genotype.