Efecto supresor de un nuevo compost sobre Pytium irregulare para el cultivo de lechuga baby leaf en sistema de bandejas flotante

Abstract

In the production of small leafy lettuce (baby leaf) in floating system, the use ofpeat as a substrate could presents significant losses, since plants can be affected bydifferent diseases such as ‘damping off’, which are caused by fungi as Pythium spp. Theuse of composts with suppressive effect can be used as an alternative to peat helping tocontrol these pathogens and allowing a more sustainable production system. Theobjective of this work was to study the suppressive capacity of new compost obtainedfrom residues of the agrifood industry (C14) in the pathosystem Pythium irregularelettuce, and its effect on the lettuce quality and production. In the experiment a cultivarof lettuce 'baby leaf' red 'Antoria' was used. Harvesting was done 35 days after sowing.The aerial and root growth, nitrate content, total phenolics, antioxidant capacity andvitamin C were measured at harvesting time. In the non-infected conditions, no significantdifferences were observed in fresh weight and leaf area between C14 and peat. In theinfected conditions, C14 improved the growth of lettuce plants, with higher in fresh weight, leaf area and height. Also, C14 reduced nitrate content both in the non-infectedand infected conditions. The content of total phenolics and antioxidant capacity increasedin plants grown in C14 with the presence of pathogen. In conclusion, compost C14 canbe used as an alternative to peat in a floating system, improving the growth and qualityof plants lettuce in the presence of the pathogen and preventing the infection of lettuce.