Soil organic matter amendments may provide an alternative management practice for soil diseases caused by Phytophthora spp. In this paper we have evaluated the effectiveness of residential sewage sludge to suppress P. nicotianae under laboratory conditions. The effect of sewage sludge on P. nicotianae survival was evaluated by two experimental factors: sewage sludge doses (0, 10, 20 and 40% w/w) and inoculum level [0, 10 and 20 g infested wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds per kg of soil]. After maintaining the mixtures (soil – sewage sludge – inoculum) at room temperature for 21 days, treatments with higher organic matter had lower P. nicotianae survival, pH of the mixture, and higher electric conductivity (EC). Correlations between pathogen survival and EC were negative and significant (P>0,05). In order to evaluate the chemical effects of the sewage sludge on P. nicotianae, water, H2SO4 2N e KOH 0,4N extracts were obtained from sand - sewage sludge (20% w/w) mixtures and each one of them was added to culture medium. The H2SO4 2N extract significantly (P>0,05) inhibited colony growth. The biological effect of the sewage sludge was evaluated by isolating microbial antagonists and testing them against P. nicotianae by bioassay and plate techniques. The bioassay technique selected one fungus (isolate F9.1, identified as Aspergillus sp.) and one actinomycete (isolate A12.1, not identified). The plate technique selected one Trichoderma sp. and two actinomycetes for their antibiosis to P. nicotianae, and one Trichoderma sp. and three Aspergillus sp. for their hyper-parasitism to the pathogen.
