A homeopatia pode ser uma alternativa de controle de doenças de plantas pela ativação de genes vegetais responsáveis pela resistência às doenças. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a ação dos medicamentos homeopáticos Propolis, Sulphur e Ferrum sulphuricum nas dinamizações 6, 12, 30 e 60CH (escala centesimal hahnemaniana) no controle de Alternaria solani e em variáveis de crescimento. Solução hidroalcóolica 10% e água destilada foram os tratamentos controle. Aos 19 dias após o transplante, a 6 ª folha de cada planta foi tratada e 72 horas após, a 6ª e a 7ª folhas foram inoculadas com A. solani. A severidade da doença foi avaliada e calculada a área abaixo da curva de progresso da doença (AACPD). Foram avaliados volume e massa seca do sistema radicular e massa fresca e seca da parte aérea. Sulphur em 12 e 30CH, Ferrum sulphuricum em 6, 12 e 30CH e Propolis em todas as dinamizações reduziram a AACPD na ordem de 17% a 49%. Sulphur em 60CH e solução hidroalcoólica 10% apresentaram efeito sistêmico na indução de resistência. Nas variáveis de crescimento, Propolis em 30 e 60CH incrementou o volume de raiz em 39% e 33%, a massa fresca da parte aérea em 35% (30CH) e a massa seca da raiz em 38% (30CH). Sulphur em todas as dinamizações aumentou a massa da parte aérea entre 23% a 37%, e em 60CH incrementou em 59% a massa de raízes, o que também ocorreu com Ferrum sulphuricum 60CH (65% de incremento). Esses resultados indicam que os preparados homeopáticos podem controlar a pinta preta e incrementar o crescimento do tomateiro.

The black spot disease caused by the fungus Alternaria solani (Ellis and Martin) L. R. Jones and Gront is one of the most important diseases of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). The control is usually performed with fungicides, resulting in products contaminated with pesticide residues. In recent years, the use of homeopathic medicines has been highlighted in research for disease control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro fungitoxicity against A. solani by the homeopathic medicines Propolis, Isotherapic of A. solani and Isotherapic of ash, at 6, 12, 30 and 60CH (hahnemanian centesimal) dynamizations, and Sulphur, Silicea terra, Staphysagria, Phosphorus, Ferrum sulphuricum and Kali iodatum at 6, 12, 30 and 100CH dynamizations. Distilled water and 30% hydroalcoholic solution were used as controls at 12, 30, 60 and 100CH dynamizations. Mycelial growth, sporulation and conidial germination of A. solani were evaluated. The results indicated that for mycelial growth only in Sulphur and Staphysagria 100CH showed suppressive effect compared to both controls. For sporulation, Propolis 6, 30 and 60CH and Ferrum sulphuricum 6 and 30CH caused inhibition and differed from both controls. Isotherapic of A. solani 6CH, Isotherapic of ash 6CH and Ferrum sulphuricum 30CH reduced spores germination of the pathogen. It was also found that distilled water at 60 and 100CH inhibited mycelium growth. These results indicate the potential of some homeopathic medicines for trials aiming to control the black spot disease in tomato crops.

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.