MODOLON TA; BOFF P; BOFF MIC; MIQUELLUTI DJ. 2012. Homeopathic and high dilution preparations for pest management to tomato crop under
organic production system. Horticultura Brasileira 30: 51-57.
Homeopathic and high dilution preparations for pest management to
tomato crop under organic production system
Tatiani A Modolon1; Pedro Boff2; Mari Inês C Boff1; David José Miquelluti1
1
UDESC-CAV, Depto. Agronomia, Av. Luis de Camões 2090, 88520-000 Lages-SC; tatimodolon@hotmail.com; a2micb@cav.udesc.br;
a2djm@cav.udesc.br; 2EPAGRI, Lab. Homeopatia e Saúde Vegetal, C. Postal 181, 88506-080 Lages-SC; pboff@epagri.sc.gov.br
ABSTRACT
RESUMO
Tomato crops (Solanum lycopersicum) under conventional
production system are constantly treated against pest and diseases,
with organic synthetic pesticides that are used may cause serious
disturbance to environment and human health. This research
was carried out in order to study the effect of homeopathic and
high dilution preparations on pests and diseases management of
tomato crop under organic production system. Two experiments
were conducted under ield conditions and one in greenhouse.
All of them in randomized block design with the cultivar Santa
Cruz Kada. The treatments consisted of homeopathic preparations
Staphysagria, Arsenicum album, Sulphur, Arnica montana, high
dilution preparations of Solanum lycopersicum and Solanum
aculeatissimum, at the decimal (DH) or centesimal (CH) scale of
hahnemanian high dilution. Bordeaux mixture, cupric preparation,
and Bacillus thuringiensis were also included in weight doses. The
preparation Arnica montana 12DH increased the tomato yield under
ield conditions. The damage incidence of small borer was eficiently
reduced with applications of Sulphur 12CH that equalling to B.
thuringiensis. The same treatment did not reduce the large borers.
B. thuringiensis reduced also the septoria leaf spot incidence in the
ield. In greenhouse, the high dilution preparation of tomato at 12DH
completely suppressed the septoria leaf spot and drastically reduced
the same disease at 24DH. The homeopathic and high dilution
preparations have the potential to be effective on replacing pesticides
that are used on tomato, and could be suitable to ill legal requirement
for organic production system.
Manejo itossanitário do tomateiro com uso de preparados
homeopáticos e altas diluições sob sistema orgânico de produção
Keywords: Solanum lycopersicum, agro-homeopathy, crop
protection.
O tomateiro (Solanum lycopersicum) sob sistema de produção
convencional está constantemente sujeito a pragas e doenças, os
pesticidas orgânicos sintéticos que são usados podem causar graves
perturbações ao meio ambiente e à saúde humana. O objetivo deste
trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de preparados homeopáticos e altas diluições no manejo de pragas e doenças da cultura do tomateiro sob
sistema orgânico de produção. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos
em condições de campo e um experimento em casa de vegetação.
Todos eles em delineamento de blocos casualizados com cultivar
Santa Cruz Kada. Os tratamentos constituíram-se dos preparados
homeopáticos Staphysagria, Arsenicum album, Sulphur, Arnica
montana, preparados em altas diluições de Solanum lycopersicum
e Solanum aculeatissimum, nas escalas decimal (DH) e centesimal
(CH) de dinamização hahnemaniana. Calda bordalesa, calda cúprica e
Bacillus thuringiensis também foram incluídos em doses ponderais. O
preparado de Arnica montana 12DH proporcionou a maior produção
de frutos de tomateiro a campo. Danos pela broca pequena foram
eicientemente reduzidos com aplicação de Sulphur 12CH, igualando
a B. thuringiensis. O mesmo tratamento não foi eiciente para reduzir
a incidência das brocas grandes. B. thuringiensis reduziu a incidência
de septoriose a campo. Em casa de vegetação, o preparado em alta
diluição de tomateiro na 12DH suprimiu completamente a incidência
de septoriose, enquanto que na 24DH a doença foi drasticamente
reduzida. O uso de preparados homeopáticos e preparados em altas
diluições tem potencial para ser eicaz na substituição de pesticidas
que são utilizados na cultura do tomate e poderia ser adequado para
preencher requisito legal para o sistema orgânico de produção.
Palavras-chave: Solanum lycopersicum, agro-homeopatia, manejo
itossanitário.
(Recebido para publicação em 7 de outubro de 2010; aceito em 27 de dezembro de 2011)
(Received on October 7, 2010; accepted on December 27, 2011)
T
omato (Solanum lycopersicum) is
an important vegetable crop widely
cultivated in Santa Catarina state.
Tomatoes are also excellent sources
of nutrition including potassium,
vitamin C, and various carotenoids and
phytochemicals such as polyphenols
(Yoshimura et al., 2010). They can
be consumed as fresh and processed
food such as salad and juice. The
conventional cultivation of tomato has
required a lot of pesticides to control
Hortic. bras., v. 30, n. 1, jan. - mar. 2012
pests and diseases meanly due to the
lack of adequate resistance in the
available cultivars and the intensive
system throughout heavy mineral
fertilization that is currently used. The
application of synthetic substances,
namely agrochemicals to protect plants
against pests and diseases, has threatened
the environment, the farmer, and the
consumers health (Almeida et al., 2009).
Studies carried out by National Agency
of Sanitary Surveillance (ANVISA),
throughout the project of residue
analysis of agrochemicals on food,
demonstrated that 32.5% of fresh tomato
samples from the market showed levels
of pesticide residues much higher
than was allowed by legal regulations
(ANVISA, 2009). The analysis detected
also active substances forbidden to
be used on tomato crops such as
allethrin, chlorpyrifos, methamidophos,
cyproconazole and aldicarb (ANVISA,
2009).
51
TA Modolon et al.
Environment-sound technologies
and pesticide-free foods are often a
concern to consumers elsewhere. The
claim of consumers pushes farmers to
move from conventional agriculture
practices into sustainable crop systems
supported by ecological principles
with minimal hazardous effects (Boff,
2008). In this way, organic production
systems are being developed and highly
stimulated by public policies (Brazil,
2008). Nevertheless, the ecological
transition of agriculture still demands
frequent intervention to solve crop
management problems such as insects
and diseases (Khatounian, 2001).
The use of high dilution preparations
according to homeopathic science
is one of the best possibilities that
can fill both requirements: (a) to
overcome phytossanitarian problems
and (b) to restore the biological
dynamic equilibrium (Boff, 2008).
Active preparations at high dilution
works on plants by improving their own
physiological state, inducing resistance
and favouring multiple biological
interactions in the way that healthy
plants are tolerant to pests and diseases
and promptly response for optimal
production (Bonato, 2007).
The homeopathic knowledge can be
appropriated by farmers and it would be
very suitable for family farmers that will
intend to conduct an ecological/organic
based production system. The use of
homeopathic preparations in agricultural
systems is legally provided in Brazil
by the organic production regulations
throughout normative instruction n°
64, on the December 18, 2008 (Brasil,
2008). Homeopathic preparations have
showed effective results to manage
several pests and diseases on plants
and consequently farmer had also better
yields and healthy life. Gonçalves et al.
(2009) could control trips on onion crops
by using ground shells at 6 and 30CH
(centesimal hahnemanian dilutions).
Rossi et al. (2007) demonstrated that
potato plants produced more tubers
when treated with Datura metel 12CH
and Bryonia alba 12CH than the control
one. Toledo (2009) showed reduction
of 43% and 73% in severity of early
blight (Alternaria solani) on tomato
by spraying Ferrum sulphuricum 12
52
and 30CH, respectively. Higher level
of essential oil was also produced by
mint plants treated with Sulphur at
6, 12, 24, and 30CH (Bonato et al.,
2009). Boff (2008) pointed out that
homeopathic preparations obtained from
local resources, called biotherapics,
particularly the nosodes that are made
from parts of the own plant or insect/
pests, can provide the farmers a simple,
versatile, and cheap tool to quickly
overcome farm problems. Another
way to choose suitable homeopathic
preparation to treat plants is from what
is described in the homeopathic materia
medica (Vijnovsky, 1980). Despite
the fact that very little is known about
the mode of action of high dilution
preparations, we are able to measure its
effects throughout experimental studies
(Brizzi et al., 2005).
This research was carried out in order
to evaluate the effect of homeopathic
and high dilution preparations on crop
protection of tomatoes cultivated under
organic production systems.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Experiments were conducted at
Experimental Station of Epagri, Lages
(27°48’S, 50°19’W, 931 meters altitude),
Santa Catarina State, Brazil, during crop
cycles 2008/2009 and 2009/2010. The
soil has been classiied as Haplumbrept
(Embrapa, 1999). Tomato seeds of
cultivar Santa Cruz Kada were supplied
by organic farmers associated to the
Ecological Centre, municipality of Ipê,
Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.
The research consisted of two
ield experiments and one greenhouse
assay. The experimental design was in
randomized blocks with four replications
for the first field experiment and
greenhouse assay, and three replications
for the second ield experiment. The soil
where the ield experiments were carried
out was previously prepared by planting,
in the winter Fagopyrum tataricum and
Vicia sativa for producing biomass that
remained on the soil. 11 t ha-1 of cattle
manure compost were added. Field
plots were composed by 10 plants in
double row (0.5 m between plants and
1 m between rows). Each tomato plant,
with one stalk, was vertically sustained
by a bamboo stick. The greenhouse
plot consisted of one 27-day old tomato
plantlet, transplanted into 5 L plastic
vase illed with soil, sand and cattle
manure at 2:1:1 proportion, respectively.
The greenhouse assay was conducted
with 60±5% relative humidity and
temperature of 25±5°C.
Treatments for the ield crop cycle
2008/2009 consisted of homeopathic
preparations of Staphysagria, Arsenicum
album, and Sulphur at 12CH (centesimal
dilution), bordeaux mixture at 0.3%,
Bacillus thuringiensis at 1 mL L-1 of
commercial product Dipel®, and nonintervention plot. In the field crop
cycle 2009/2010 and greenhouse assay,
the treatments were: high dilution
preparations of Solanum lycopersicum
(tomato x cultivar Santa Cruz Kada)
and Solanum aculeatissimum (wild
specie), homeopathic preparations of
Arnica montana and Sulphur, all 12DH
and 24DH (decimal dilution); Bordeaux
mixture at 0.3%, cupric formulation
EEC at 50 ppm (formulated with
grape vinegar, seed lax, and copper
sulphate), and non-intervention plot.
The homeopathic and high dilution
preparations were chosen according
to current literature on high dilution
research and by doing analogies
with homeopathic materia medica
(Vijnovsky, 1980). Arnica is reported for
physical damage that tomato could have
along its growing cycle. Staphysagria is
indicated to improving plant resistance
against pests and diseases (Bonato,
2009). Arsenicum album was reported
to supress spore germination of fungi,
whereas Sulphur supress the growing of
mycelium (Sinha & Singh, 1983; Casali
et al., 2009). The high preparations of
Solanum spp. were included on base of
the related ancestral of the crop.
Ten homeopathic preparations
were prepared according to the
methodology described in the
Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopeia
(Farmacopéia Homeopática Brasileira,
1997). The matrix (stock preparations)
of Staphysagria, Arsenicum album,
Sulphur and Arnica montana were
bought from homeopathic pharmacy in
Lages, Santa Catarina State. The high
dilution preparations of S. lycopersicum
and S. aculeatissimum were prepared
Hortic. bras., v. 30, n. 1, jan. - mar. 2012
Homeopathic and high dilution preparations for pest management to tomato crop under organic production system
from mother tincture obtained by the
maceration of green leaves and stalks
of the respective plant in alcohol, during
15 days.
The application of the treatments for
the three experiments was performed
in double-blind, where neither the
applicator nor the evaluator knew
the identity of the treatments. The
treatments were identified by codes
and being known just after processing
the data.
The dose of ield experiments was
10 mL L-1 of homeopathic preparations
and high dilution preparation into pure
water. The ield sprays were applied
with knapsack sprayer (Guarany®) using
hollow-cone nozzle with an application
rate of 600 L ha-1, in the morning period.
Weekly spray applications were done
from December 11, 2008 (37 days after
transplanting) until March 19, 2009 for
the irst experiment and from December
21, 2009 (27 days after transplanting)
until February 22, 2010 for the second
ield experiment. All applications were
stopped seven days before the last
harvest.
In the greenhouse assay, treatments
were applied with the dose of 60 mL
L-1 with an individual garden sprayer
(Brudden ® ) and stopping spraying
just before run-off. Applications were
performed every 3 days. They started in
the 2nd and stopped in the 67th day after
transplanting. The dose was six time
higher than that one used in the ield
for trying to have a quick response due
to a short crop cycle under greenhouse
conditions. The irrigation was
interrupted during spraying time until 30
minutes after that. When 70% of tomato
plants reached the 7th true leaf, about
14 days after transplanting, detached
leaves from field tomato crop were
introduced among the tomato plant pots
as a source of S. lycopersici inoculum.
The inoculum source consisted of
trays having three tomato leaves with
typical symptoms of S. lycopersici
disease. They presented 30 to 50% of
the leaf area occupied by sporulation
symptoms of S. lycopersici. In the
time of conducting the experiment, S.
lycopersici was the predominant tomato
disease, which may have been also
inluenced by the cultivar. The relative
Hortic. bras., v. 30, n. 1, jan. - mar. 2012
humidity reached 70%, at the time of
conducting the experiment. Evaluations
in the ield experiments consisted of
disease incidences, fruit damage by
insects and yield of fruit at harvest. The
incidence of the most frequent disease,
septoria leaf spot, was estimated by
counting the number of leaves that
presented typical symptoms of Septoria
lycopersici infection. The harvest was
weekly by picking the ripe fruits. The
collected fruits were counted, weighed,
and measured their diameter. Tomato
fruits damaged by insects were separated
into categories as fruit damaged by large
borers (Helicoverpa zea, Spodoptera
frugiperda and Spodoptera eridania)
and by small borer (Neoleucinodes
elegantalis).
The incidence and severity of
septoria leaf spot and fruit yield in
greenhouse assay were also evaluated.
The disease severity was considered as
the proportion of diseased lealets in
relation to the total of the plant. Fruits
were counted and weighted and the
number of bunches of lowers and fruits
were registered per plant-plot at the 70th
day after transplanting. The crop cycle
was than interrupted for operational
limitations and practical reasons. Data
analysis was performed according
to experimental design throughout
GLM and MIXED procedure of SAS®
software package (Version 9.1) and
the means were compared by Tukey
test at 5% signiicance (Littel et al.,
2006). To ill statistical assumptions, the
variables number of fruits and number
of bunches in the greenhouse assay had
added the constant value of one (1) and
after that elevated to square root. The
values of septoria leaf spot incidence
(%), and number of fruits damaged by
insects from field experiments were
transformed to arc-sine after having the
data added the constant value of three
eighth (3/8) and elevated to square root.
All transformations were done according
to data descriptive analysis and results
were presented on original values. It was
not possible to do the transformation
from the crop cycle 2009/2010 data,
concerning the variable of area under
the curve of septoria leaf spot, due to
the lack of regular heterogeneity of
variance and non-normality. In this
case, we performed the Freedman test
using software R (R Development Core
Team, 2008).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
To m a t o p l a n t s t r e a t e d w i t h
Staphysagria 12CH yielded fruits with
higher diameter than those without
intervention but it did not increase the
weigh per plant.
Sulphur 12CH signiicantly reduced
the number of fruits damaged by the
small borer (Neoleucinodes elegantalis)
(Table 1) but not the number of fruits
damaged by the large borers. Sulphur
12CH did not differ from Bacillus
thuringiensis kurstaki (Dipel®). Dipel
is recommended by organic certiiers as
being the best product to control large
and small tomato borers (Dias, 1992).
The effect of Sulphur on small borers was
not conirmed in the second experiment,
crop cycle 2009/2010 (Table 2). It can be
argued that the dilution order makes the
difference, since in 2008/2009 Sulphur
was prepared by centesimal dilutions
(CH) whereas in 2009/2010 was at
decimal dilutions (DH). Also, none of
the other high dilution preparations on
decimal dilution order could reduce
the fruit damage by borers (Table
2). However, it can differ from one
homeopathic preparation to another
and further studies are needed. In fact,
centesimal and decimal dilutions are
independent methods and different
effects would be expected from them as
indicated by Farmacopeia Homeopatica
Brasileira (1997). The effect of high
dilution preparations on insect pests was
also reported by Deboni (2009). This
author obtained 83 to 100% reduction on
Acanthoscelides obtectus progeny when
bean grains were treated with nosode of
the own adult of A. obtectus.
Tomato plants treated by Sulphur
24DH in greenhouse conditions
showed higher number of bunches
but it did not differ from the nonintervention plot (Table 3). An increase
in biomass is frequently reported
by using homeopathic preparations.
However, as stated by Bonato (2007),
it is not always in linear response and
the experiment design must include
several possibilities of potential level
53
TA Modolon et al.
Table 1. Fruit production and incidence of borers and septoria leaf spot in tomato plants treated with homeopathic and high dilution
preparations under organic production systems (produção de frutos e incidência de brocas e septoriose em tomateiro tratado com preparados
homeopáticos e altas diluições sob sistema orgânico de produção). Lages, EPAGRI, 2008/2009.
Large borers*1
Small borers*2
Septoria leaf spot*3
(% of damaged fruits) (% of damaged fruits)
(% of leaves)
7.07 a
4.92 ab
8.32 a
Fruit
(g/plant)
774.52 a
Fruit
ø (mm)
47.07 a
Bacillus thuringiensis
(1 mL L-1)
669.57 ab
45.43 ab
5.42 b
2.42 b
0.18 b
Bordeaux mixture (0.3%)
Without intervention
Arsenicum album 12CH
Sulphur 12CH
CV (%)
617.65 ab
612.22 ab
535.35 b
528.75 b
27.15
44.86 b
44.71 b
43.41 b
44.21 b
3.81
6.32 ab
7.05 ab
9.55 a
5.57 ab
24.12
5.55 ab
7.72 a
5.87 ab
3.05 b
46.52
3.37 ab
3.88 ab
6.76 ab
2.51 ab
7.71
Treatments
Staphysagria 12CH
Means followed by the same letter, in the column, did not differ from each other by Tukey test (p>0.05) (médias seguidas da mesma letra na
coluna não diferem entre si pelo teste de Tukey (p>0.05)); ns = Not signiicant by Tukey test (p>0.05) (não signiicativo pelo teste de Tukey
(p>0.05)); *Original values. For statistical analysis, data were transformed to arc-sin after having the data added the constant value of three
eighth (3/8) and elevated to square root (médias originais. Para análise estatística, os dados foram transformados para arco-seno, depois
de terem sido adicionados o valor da constante de três oitavos (3/8) e elevado a raiz quadrada). 1Helicoverpa zea, Spodoptera frugiperda,
Spodoptera eridania; 2Neoleucinodes elegantalis; 3Proportion of leaves with disease symptoms (Septoria lycopersici) (proporção de folhas
com sintomas da doença (Septoria lycopersici)).
Table 2. Proitability, incidence of borers and septoria leaf spot in tomato treated with homeopathic and high dilution preparations under
organic production systems (rentabilidade, incidência de brocas e septoriose em tomateiro tratado com preparados homeopáticos e altas
diluições). Lages, EPAGRI, 2009/2010.
Treatments
Arnica montana 12DH
Sulphur 24DH
Sulphur 12DH
Solanum aculeatissimum
12DH
Cupric formulation EEC
(50 ppm)
Arnica montana 24DH
Tomato 24DH
Bordeaux mixture
(0.3%)
Tomato 12DH
Without intervention
Solanum aculeatissimum
24DH
CV (%)
Fruit
(g/plant)
Fruit diameter
Large borers*1
Small borers*2
Septoria leaf spot
(mm)
(% of damaged fruits) (% of damaged fruits)
(AUDPC)3
1491.56 a
1226.70 ab
1211.83 ab
45.21 a
44.61 a
44.43 a
6.73 ns1
7.62
6.85
2.60 ns1
1.77
2.22
478.35 ns2
357.90
228.02
1211.46 ab
44.76 a
8.37
5.05
264.73
1159.80 ab
43.57 ab
6.29
2.94
490.92
1135.86 ab
1056.03 b
44.33 a
44.11 a
6.31
5.63
3.66
2.94
416.58
1694.17
1055.16 b
43.38 ab
8.63
3.12
71.75
1025.33 b
1004.36 b
43.53 ab
44.15 a
7.97
8.35
3.42
1.76
223.28
1275.58
42.06 b
7.65
3.85
61.65
4.23
19.94
33.27
844.56 b
7.71
-
Means followed by the same letter, in the column, did not differ from each other by Tukey test (p>0.05) (médias seguidas da mesma letra na
coluna não diferem entre si pelo teste de Tukey (p>0.05)); ns1= Not signiicant by Tukey test (p>0.05) (não signiicativo pelo teste de Tukey
(p>0.05)); ns2 = Not signiicant by Freedman test (ns2 = não signiicativo pelo teste de Freedman); *Original values. For statistical analysis, data
were transformed to arc-sin after having the data added the constant value of three eighth (3/8) and elevated to square root (médias originais.
Para análise estatística, os dados foram transformados para arco-seno depois de ter os dados adicionados o valor da constante de três oitavos
(3/8) e elevado à raiz quadrada). 1Helicoverpa zea, Spodoptera frugiperda, Spodoptera eridania; 2Neoleucinodes elegantalis; 3AUDPC =
Area under disease progress curve (Septoria lycopersici) (AACPD = área abaixo da curva do progresso da doença (Septoria lycopersici)).
and frequency. Carvalho et al. (2003)
found that the level biomass production
of Tanacetum parthenium treated by
Arnica montana 1DH was higher than
produced by plants treated by Arnica
montana 3DH. Despite the fact that
54
Sulphur 12DH and 24DH reduced the
septoria leaf spot incidence, it was not
signiicant probably due to high variance
of data (Table 2). However, Toledo
(2009) observed reduction levels of 35%
and 17% of Alternaria solani incidence
when applied Sulphur 12CH and 30CH,
respectively. Sinha & Singh (1983)
reported 100% eficiency of Sulphur
200CH on inhibition of the alatoxin
produced by Aspergillus parasiticus.
Tomato plants treated with Arnica
Hortic. bras., v. 30, n. 1, jan. - mar. 2012
Homeopathic and high dilution preparations for pest management to tomato crop under organic production system
montana 12DH showed increase of fruit
weight at the level of 48.5% comparing
to non-intervention (Table 2). Arnica
montana 12DH and 24DH provided
similar results in all evaluated variables.
However, Arnica montana 12DH and
24DH did not differ from the control
in relation to fruits damaged by borers
and septoria leaf spot incidence in the
field experiment. Under greenhouse
conditions, Arnica montana at 12 DH
and 24DH did not differ from the control
for the number of fruit bunches, but it
reduced the incidence and severity of
septoria leaf spot (Table 3). Carvalho et
al. (2003) observed that Arnica montana
1DH applied to T. parthenium plants
increased 28% in biomass in comparison
to plants treated with water.
Solanum aculeatissimum 24DH
applied under field conditions could
reduce the septoria leaf spot incidence
on tomato plants, expressed by the
curve under disease progress (ACDP),
when compared to non-intervention.
However, the high value of variance
did not allow to detect significant
differences among treatments (p>0.05)
(Table 2). On the other hand, tomato
plants under greenhouse conditions
treated by nosodes of S. aculeatissimum
12DH and 24DH showed less incidence
and severity of septoria leaf spot than
non treated plants (Table 3). Rolim et
al. (2005) observed that the nosode of
A. solani at 30CH and 60CH reduced
the severity of the own late blight
on tomato plants under greenhouse
conditions. The reduction of severity of
A. solani on tomato was also reported
by Toledo (2009) that used Ferrum
sulphuricum 12CH and 30CH. The
use of homeopathic preparations from
wild ancestral plant species (Euchlaena
mexicana) was studied by Almeida
(2003). This author observed deleterious
effect on Spodoptera frugiperda larvae
feed on corn plants when applied
Euchlaena at 6CH. In our studies, the
high dilution preparations related specie
S. aculeatissimum to tomato family did
not affect genus pests nor the tomato
yield (Table 2).
The tomato 12DH suppressed 100%
infection of septoria leaf spot. At 24DH
potential level, the tomato reduced also
the incidence and severity of septoria
leaf spot under greenhouse conditions
in relation to other treatments (Table
3). However, plants treated by this high
dilution preparation showed to delay the
fruit maturation (data not presented).
Moreover, tomato 24DH reduced more
than 90% of septoria leaf spot severity
in comparison to Bordeaux mixture that
is largely used by organic farmers (Table
3). This trend also occurred in plants
treated with the cupric formulation
EEC. However, these results were not
consistent under ield conditions, where
the tomato at 12DH or 24DH did not
affect the tomato yield nor the insect
damages and disease infection (Tabela
2). However, it seems that centesimal
dilution (CH) would better discriminate
the high dilution treatments on tomato
crops than decimal dilution order (DH)
and further studies should be done on
that. On the other hand, attention should
be devoted to high dilution effects from
own tomato plants, which showed a
potential to reduce septoria leaf spot
under greenhouse conditions.
Unexpected result was observed
by applying Arsenicum album 12CH.
Tomato fruits produced by plants
treated with this preparation were
highly damaged by Helicoverpa zea, S.
frugiperda, and S. eridania (Table 1).
This can be interpreted as pathogenic
response meanwhile the high dilution
preparations stimulate host reaction
in which come out artiicial disorders
Table 3. Fruit production and occurrence of septoria leaf spot in tomato plants cultivated in greenhouse and treated with homeopathic and
high dilution preparations (produção de frutos e ocorrência de septoriose em tomateiro cultivado em casa de vegetação e tratados com
preparados homeopáticos e altas diluições). Lages, EPAGRI, 2010.
Treatments
Tomato 12DH
Tomato 24DH
Arnica montana 24DH
Arnica montana 12DH
Sulphur 12DH
Solanum aculeatissimum 12DH
Sulphur 24DH
Solanum aculeatissimum 24DH
Cupric formulation
EEC (50
ppm)
Bordeaux mixture (0.3%)
Without intervention
CV (%)
Septoria leaf spot (AUDPC)1
Incidence
Severity
0.00 e
0.00 c
60.40 e
118.75 c
611.14 d
1813.28 b
625.17 d
2286.97 ab
631.93 d
1929.16 b
748.31 d
1475.72 b
760.79 cd
1532.20 b
896.40 cd
1296.97 b
Production (n°/plant)2
Bunches of flowers
Fruit
2.00 ab
0.00ns
2.48 ab
1.69
1.95 ab
0.83
2.23 ab
1.61
1.40 b
2.70
2.48 ab
1.36
3.24 a
2.03
2.00 ab
1.62
1247.44 bc
1948.49 b
1.73 ab
0.65
1557.66 b
2855.46 a
22.17
1981.06 b
3190.35 a
28.34
2.48 ab
2.23 ab
9.63
2.03
1.12
26.98
Means followed by the same letter, in the column, did not differ from each other by Tukey test (p>0.05) (médias seguidas da mesma letra, na
coluna não diferem entre si pelo teste de Tukey (p>0.05)). ns = Not signiicant by Tukey test (p>0.05) (não signiicativo pelo teste de Tukey
(p>0.05)); 1AUDPC = Area under disease progress curve (Septoria lycopersici) (AACPD = área abaixo da curva do progresso da doença
(Septoria lycopersici)). 2The crop cycle was interrupted at 70th days after transplanting for operational limitations and practical reasons.
Original values. For statistical analysis, data were transformed to √(x + 1,0) (o ciclo da cultura foi interrompido aos 70 dias após o transplante por limitações operacionais e razões práticas. Médias originais. Para análise estatística, os dados foram transformados em √(x + 1,0)).
Hortic. bras., v. 30, n. 1, jan. - mar. 2012
55
TA Modolon et al.
(Bonato, 2007). Homeopathic pathogenic
responses are manifestations from the
interaction between the organisms and
high dilution preparations, resulting in a
temporary pathologic igure. Baiocco et
al. (2008) observed also similar results
by using Staphysagria 65CH on kale
that increased the number of winged
aphids. In our studies, Staphysagria
12CH increased also infection of
Septoria lycopersici by comparing
disease incidence with the control
(Table 1). Nevertheless, the results are
not the same for different conditions, as
demonstrate by Rolim et al. (2005), who
reported reduction on A. solani severity
on tomato by applying Staphysagria
30CH. Inducing resistance could be one
of the mode of action of high dilution on
plants against diseases. This mechanism
is well known with application of
several chemical composts and it has
been suggested by Bonato (2007) that
would work on plants treated by high
dilution preparations.
Despite the fact that B. thuringiensis
is a traditional biological control product
used against caterpillars, it did not
differ from other treatments in our
studies. Moreover, B. thuringiensis
presented signiicant effect on reducing
the incidence of septoria leaf spot
(Table 1). Biological control agents
namely bacteria and some fungus act
throughout antibiosis that means they
produce such kind of metabolites
adverse to the other organism, being
insects or parasites (Knaak et al.,
2009). The antibiosis action of B.
thuringiensis kurstaki on S. lycopersici
is suggested because the low incidence
of the infection on plants treated by the
bacteria was consistent (Table 1). These
results are supported by Knaak et al.
(2007), that found the proteins Cry1Ab
e Cry1Ac produced, respectively, by
B. thuringiensis thuringiensis isolate
407 and B. thuringiensis kurstaki HD73, to reduce the mycelia growth of
Pyricularia grisea, Rhizoctonia solani,
Fusarium oxysporum, and F. solani.
Resmuska & Pria (2007) verified
also reduction growth on Monilinia
fructicola and Sclerotium rolfsii mycelia
by B. thuringiensis and they prevented
sclerotia formation.
Bordeaux mixture at 0.3% could
56
reduce more than 50% of septoria leaf
spot incidence comparison to the control
plants in greenhouse conditions (Table
3). This result was consistent in the
ield experiments, where the septoria
leaf spot incidence was reduced by 90%
on the crop cycle 2009/2010 (Table 2).
Nevertheless, Bordeaux mixture was not
better than high dilution preparation to
manage diseases and pests on tomato
crops.
In conclusion, we may state that
high dilution preparations have the
potential to replace Bordeaux mixture,
a traditional formulation largely used by
organic farmers. Despite its well known
insecticidal action, B. thuringiensis
showed to have deleterious effect on
phytopathogenic fungus. The high
dilution Sulphur 12CH can be used to
protect tomato fruits against the small
borer damage.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors thank MCT/CTHIDRO/CNPq and FAPESC/FAPEU
that through the project “Rede Guarani/
Serra Geral” Conv. 16261/10-2 provided
financial support for this research.
They are also grateful to the field
workers and technicians at Experimental
Station and Homeopathy and Plant
Health Laboratory of Epagri-Lages.
The irst author thanks CAPES for the
scholarship during MSc studies and the
second one thanks CNPq for sponsoring
as PQ-researcher.
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