Identification and Comparison of Phytohormones and Microbial Populations in Different Types of Vermicompost Tea.

Separate greenhouse experiments confirmed the ability of a vermicompost tea (VCT) to increase tomato plant growth and yield, and the ability of another VCT to suppress nematodes. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was used to identify and quantify the phytohormones indole-3acetic acid, isopentenyladenosine and abscisic acid in the plant growth-promoting VCT. The nematode-suppressing VCT is also being analyzed to quantify phytohormone concentrations. Additionally, rRNA gene analysis will identify the fungi and bacteria in the teas that could be contributing to the suppression of nematodes in the soil and increasing tomato growth.