Homeopathy in the Rust Severity and Growth of Malva sylvestris L.

Abstract

The production of medicinal plants which have an association with biotrophic fungi requires non-residual and favorable methods to the host with tolerance to the presence of phytopathogens. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of homeopathic preparations on the rust severity and the growth of Malva sylvestris plants. M. sylvestris seedlings were prepared in 600 ml containers with commercial substrate. The seedlings were arranged in pots at 26 days of age and outlined in two experiments. The treatments consisted of Amonnium carbonicum (Am. carb.), Atropa belladonna (Bell.), Calcarea carbonica (Calc. carb.), Silicea terra (Sil.) and Sulfur (Sulf.), all at 30CH (centesimal Hahnemannian dilution order). The last two dynamizations (29 and 30CH) were prepared in distilled water for all treatments. Control plants were treated with water. Natural inoculation of the plants with Puccinia malvacearum occurred in the first experiment, and the applications of homeopathic preparations were carried out every seven days for five weeks. Four evaluations of rust severity, diameter, height and number of leaves were conducted. Next, M. sylvestris seedlings were transplanted into pots with 5 liters of substrate in the second experiment and the growth curve of the plant was observed in relation to the diameter and height variables. Am. Carb. reduced 18.29% of the rust severity in relation to the control plants. Sil. 30CH contributed to an increase in stem diameter. There was no interference in the plants’ height by homeopathic preparations. The application of homeopathies in M. sylvestris can contribute to their production, reducing the rust intensity considered in the crop cycle and can assist in the plant growth without leaving residues which can harm pollinators and hyperparasites.