Endophytic bacteria as agents of plant growth promotion in tomato and inhibition in vitro of Ralstonia solanacearum

Out of one hundred and fifty isolates of endophytic bacteria from leaves, stems and roots of healthy tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.), fifty three showed ability to promote tomato plant growth, among these, ten isolates UFV-E17, UFV-E22, UFV-E25, UFV-E26, UFV-E27, Bacillus cereus (UFV-E29), UFV-E49, UFLA 06-LS, UFLA 08-LS and UFLA 11-LS, provided the largest plant growth promotion. Weekly assessment of plant height and number of leaves and leaflets were carried out during 45 days. After the sixth evaluation, the leaf area and the fresh and dry weight of the aerial part of plants and of the roots were measured. Isolate UFV-E49 provided the largest values of height, leaf area, number of leaves and fresh and dry weight of the aerial part of plants as well as the root. From the selected isolates, only two presented antimicrobial activity against Ralstonia solanacearum.