Abstract

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is one of the main Brazilian agricultural crop. It is affected by numerous diseases during its life cycle; one of these includes the white mold caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The objective of this study was to verify the control of white mold in bean plants by homeopathic medicines. Two tests were performed: In the first test, the medicine Calcarea carbonica was used, while phosphorus was used in the second test. Both medicines were administered at dynamizations of 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 CH  (Hahnemanniana Centesimal). In the control treatment, 30% hydroalcoholic solution was used. The study was conducted using a completely randomized design, analyzing the following variables: Area under the disease progress curve and percentage of dead plants. The results were submitted to Tukey’s test and regression analysis (p > 0.05). Calcarea carbonica at 6 CH and Phosphorus at 6 CH, 12 CH, 24 CH, 36 CH, and 48 CH reduced the intensity of white mold in bean plants. With the exception of Calcarea carbonica at 12 CH and 24 CH, no other medicine reduced the percentage of plant death due to white mold disease.

Key words: Homeopathy, alternative control, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Phaseolus vulgaris.