Streptomycetes are known for producing secondary metabolites, such as antibiotics and extracellular enzymes, that act in the degradation of complex and recalcitrant molecules, playing an important role in composting processes. Thus, to evaluate the effect of soil inoculation and incubation with streptomycete isolates, in the initial growth stage of tomato seedlings, an experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with six streptomycete isolates and a non-inoculated control. The soil was inoculated and incubated for 20 days, before planting. After 30 days, the seedlings were collected for determination of seedling height, stem diameter, dry weight of shoots and roots, and nutrients accumulation in shoots. The streptomycete isolates promoted significant increments in the growth and nutrients contents of tomato seedlings. It is suggested that the 35-days incubation period of the inoculated soil, before planting, promotes the time necessary for the streptomycetes to act in the mineralization of soil organic matter, providing nutrients for plants growth.
Actinomycetes; growth promotion; Lycopersicum esculentum (L.) Santa Clara