An alternative to chemical treatments is the biological treatment of seeds with bioprotectors. Trichoderma spp. has been considered efficient in the control of fungi and bacteria. This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the efficiency of the treatments of cottonseeds with the fungicides: carboxin+thiram, carbendazin+thiram and flutolanil, comparing them with T. harzianum, in the seed germination and vigor and in the promotion of seedling growth. The standard germination, emergence in sand and in the field, germination at low temperature, index of germination speed, dry matter and length of the aerial part of the seedlings were evaluated. Seeds treated with T. harzianum, carbendazin+thiram and carboxin+thiram showed higher germination and emergence and the first two also resulted in more vigorous seedlings. Seeds treated with carboxin+thiram produced smaller seedlings with lower dry matter.
cotton; vigor; Trichoderma harzianum; fungicides
