02112naa a2200193 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902200140006010000200007424501830009426000090027752014990028665000130178565000110179870000180180970000190182770000200184677300520186620083662023-05-26       2015    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d  a0304-42381 aOLIVARES, F. L.  aSubstrate biofortification in combination with foliar sprays of plant growth promoting bacteria and humic substances boosts production of organic tomatoes.h[electronic resource]  c2015  atGlobal demand for organic produce has increased by ca. 20% annually as consumers express increas-ing concerns over pesticide residues in their food. Organic tomato farming under tropical conditions islimited, and studies of production for industrial processing are relatively rare. In this study, we aimed toevaluate a new biotechnological tool with the potential to accelerate the conversion from conventionalto organic industrial tomato production by combining the benefits of (i) the plant growth-promotingbacteria (PGPB) Herbaspirillum seropedicae and (ii) humates. This novel biofertilizer was first applied inplant growth substrate to stimulate seedling growth under greenhouse conditions; subsequently, it wasused as a foliar spray following the transplantation of greenhouse seedlings to field conditions. The ben-efits 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 duringearly growth stages. After transplantation to the field, foliar spraying of PGPB and humates enhancednitrate uptake and nitrate reductase activity; it also stimulated the secondary metabolic phenylalanineammonia lyase pathway. This new generation of biological products based on vermicompost, solubleorganic matter and selected beneficial microorganisms provides opportunities for effectively increasingbiological inputs to sustainable food, fiber and energy production.  aTomatoes  aTomate1 aAGUIAR, N. O.1 aROSA, R. C. C.1 aCANELLAS, L. P.  tScientia Horticulturaegv.183, p.100-108, 2015.