Global demand for organic produce has increased by ca. 20% annually as consumers express increasing concerns over pesticide residues in their food. Organic tomato farming under tropical conditions is
limited, and studies of production for industrial processing are relatively rare. In this study, we aimed to
evaluate a new biotechnological tool with the potential to accelerate the conversion from conventional
to organic industrial tomato production by combining the benefits of (i) the plant growth-promoting
bacteria (PGPB) Herbaspirillum seropedicae and (ii) humates. This novel biofertilizer was first applied in
plant growth substrate to stimulate seedling growth under greenhouse conditions; subsequently, it was
used as a foliar spray following the transplantation of greenhouse seedlings to field conditions. The benefits of vermicompost plus PGPB and humate were evident in both seedling growth and development.
Fruit biomass increased significantly relative to control plants after changes in plant metabolism during
early growth stages. After transplantation to the field, foliar spraying of PGPB and humates enhanced
nitrate uptake and nitrate reductase activity; it also stimulated the secondary metabolic phenylalanine
ammonia lyase pathway. This new generation of biological products based on vermicompost, soluble
organic matter and selected beneficial microorganisms provides opportunities for effectively increasing
biological inputs to sustainable food, fiber and energy production.
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