Dosages of bokashi in the control of Meloidogyne java']javanica in lettuce, in greenhouse

Root-knot nematodes are among the major phytosanitary problems on vegetables, and the use of organic matter can be a viable method to control this parasite. Thus, in the present study we aimed to investigate in a greenhouse the use of bokashi doses (organic compound produced by fermentation of grain mixtures) in the control of Meloidogyne javanica in lettuce. Substrate infestation was carried out using tomato seedlings transplanted into pots containing 2 kg of autoclaved soil and inoculated with 2000 eggs and eventual second stage juveniles. After 60 days, the aerial part of the tomato plant was discarded and lettuce seedlings of cv. Vera were transplanted, adding bokashi at doses of 0, 5, 10 and 20 g/pot. One second treatment consisted in the application only at the time of transplant and another to reapply the same dosages in surface 15 days after transplanting. Forty-five (45) days after transplanting, vegetative (dry and fresh weight of aerial part) and nematological (galls and nematodes/g of root) parameters were evaluated. Doses close to 14 g/pot increased the vegetative growth and doses between 13 and 14 g/pot controlled the nematode. The application time did not affect the most of parameters studied.