One of the biggest challenges for the production of bioinputs is that the product is adequately developed. This implies that it contains a sufficient amount of inoculum and that its quality is maintained during storage time. In this sense, the objectives of this work were i) to establish a protocol for the preparation and application of a bioinput based on Trichoderma harzianum and ii) to develop a protocol for family producers on the correct use of the bioinput produced. For the multiplication of T. harzianum, rice grains were used as a solid substrate. Polyethylene bags were prepared with 30 g of rice plus 15 mL of sterile distilled water. The bags were sterilized and seeded with a culture of T. harzianum. The bags were incubated at room temperature for 10 days. Once the rice was colonized, it was dried in an oven at 50° C for 24 h. The quality was evaluated one month, three and six months after the preparation of the solid product. To do this, the concentration of conidia was calculated by counting in the Neubauer chamber and the viability of the product was also calculated by counting colony-forming units of Trichoderma in Trichoderma selective medium culture medium. The results obtained indicate that the concentration of conidia in the solid substrate remains high up to six months of storage. A protocol of use was developed for producers.

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of different doses of compost obtained from fats waste of dairy industry mixed with a commercial peat-based substrate (CS) in the development of pepper seedlings. The effect of these mixtures on germination was also determined. Fat compost (FC) was obtained by the aerobic composting of sewage mixed with industry prunings (wood chips and grass). In order to check the maturity of compost, and thus, that it can be applied as a substrate, an aqueous extract thereof was prepared and phytotoxicity in seed germination and root development was analyzed. The result indicated 99.7% relative seed germination and 74.10% of germination rate. Different culture media were prepared by mixing 0, 10, 20 and 40% of FC with CS. The results showed that the application of FC on CS respectively produced increased dry matter (DM) of plants. Seedlings germinated and developed in FC 40 reached 250 mg plant-1 DM. The application of FC at germination and seedling growth showed a marked improvement in terms of development in general, DM plant, height / diameter stem, leaf area and the concentration of total chlorophylls.

The use of plants grafted on resistant rootstocks can help to reduce losses caused by biotic and abiotic factors. This experience evaluated the performance of Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. (popularly named “tutiá”) as a rootstock in combination with two commercial tomato hybrids. Genetic materials evaluated were Elpida and Superman, grafted on “tutiá” (ELPg, SUPg) and the same materials without grafting (ELP, SUP). Plants were transplanted (august/2012) in a greenhouse into biosolarizated plots (treated November/2011) and into control plots without soil disinfection. A split splot experimental design with four replicates in blocks was used. ELP y SUP showed higher yields (kg·plant-1) (30.6 % higher general mean), than ELPg y SUPg. In control plots, grafted plants had better performance with means of ELPg = 4.53 ± 1.27, SUPg = 4.19 ± 1.49, SUP = 2.49 ± 0.28 and ELP = 1.89 ± 0.68. Grafted plants also showed less blossom end rot percentage (P < 0.01) and dead plants (DP) at the end of the crop cycle (P < 0.01) than no grafted plants, means for DP were SUPg = 18.80 ± 12.40, ELPg = 23.44 ± 7.55, SUP = 43.19 ± 9.64 and ELP = 46.00 ± 9.12. Roots of grafted plants had higher total dry matter weight (P < 0.05) and lower rots percentages (P < 0.01) caused by Fusarium spp., although gall number caused by Nacobbus aberrans did not differ. The use of Solanum sisymbriifolium as rootstock could be considered a tool for integrated tomato pest management.

In the last years, researchers from different countries have made efforts to develop environmentally responsible soil disinfection techniques. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different sequences of soil solarization and/or biofumigation (BIO). The treatments evaluated were the combination of two disinfections performed on spring 2003 and 2005. The sequences evaluated were: 1. Control/Control, 2. Solarization/Solarization, 3. BIO with Chicken manure/BIO with Brocoli, 4. BIO with Brassica napus/BIO with Brocoli. Nematode control was observed at the first 10 cm of soil, inmediately after BIO treatments, performed at november 2005, differences (P ≤ 5 %) between treatments and control were observed for Nacobbus aberrans until february 2007. Percentage of Sclerotium rolfsii colonies obtained from sclerotia was always higher at control plots, but at 35 cm the treatment effect was lower. Fusarium solani was obtained only at control plots at 10 cm but in all treatments at 35 cm. In november 2006 a tomato crop was planted. The number of dead plants at the end of the cycle was significantly higher at control plots. Significant differences (P ≤ 1 %) between treatments were obtained for total yield, yield losses, and losses percentage due to small fruits and blossom end rot. Control plots showed lower yields and higher commercial yield losses. After harvest significant differences were observed for gall number and percentage of root rots caused by Pyrenochaeta lycopersici and Fusarium solani.