Journal of Agricultural Science; Vol. 11, No. 3; 2019 ISSN 1916-9752 E-ISSN 1916-9760 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 435 Effect of Trichoderma spp. on the Propagation of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek Aline Peccatti 1 , Ana Paula Moreira Rovedder 2 , Gerusa Pauli Kist Steffen 3 , Joseila Maldaner 3 , Evandro Luiz Missio 3 , Cleber Saldanha Witt 3 , Rosana Matos de Morais 3 , Betina Camargo 1 , Frederico Neuenschwander 1 , José Corrêa da Silva Júnior 4 , Luana Camila Capitani 4 & Luna Parode Dalcul 5 1 Postgraduate Program in Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil 2 Forest Science Department, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil 3 Forest Research Center, Department of Diagnosis and Agricultural Research, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil 4 Postgraduate Program in Forest Engineering, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil 5 Geomatic Specialization Course, Polytechnic College of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil Correspondence: Ana Paula Moreira Rovedder, Recovery of Degraded Areas Studies and Research Group, NEPRADE, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000, Roraima Ave, 44 Building, Office 5250, Camobi Burgh, CEP: 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Tel: 55-553-220-8444 ext. 24. E-mail: neprade@gmail.com Received: November 20, 2018 Accepted: December 22, 2018 Online Published: February 15, 2019 doi:10.5539/jas.v11n3p435 URL: https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v11n3p435 The research is financed by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—CNPq. Abstract The interest in using biotechnology tools that contribute to reducing the need for chemical inputs in agroforestry production has increased in recent years, aiming at higher quality for the environment and for society. This interest is also applied to medicine species consumed in natura. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Trichoderma spp. on germination and initial growth of Maytenus ilicifolia seedlings. Laboratory and greenhouse tests were carried out using Trichoderma spp. isolates obtained from three different strains identified as Trichoderma asperelloides (T1 & T2 strains) and Trichoderma virens (T10 strain). In laboratory, M. ilicifolia seeds without aryl were inoculated in solutions containing fungal spores and distributed in substrate paper in four replicates of 25 seeds/treatment. The first germination count, accumulated germination, percentages of accumulated dead seeds and firm seeds were evaluated at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of incubation. The same isolates were used to evaluate the effect on the initial growth of seedling in a greenhouse through a completely randomized design with 40 replicates, considering a seedling as each replicate. Trichoderma spp. isolates were inoculated on the substrate used as the basis for seeding. Seeds of M. ilicifolia were used from the same batch of the laboratory test, but without removing the aryl. The variables of total height, diameter at root collar and number of leaves were evaluated at 90, 120, 150 and 180 days after seeding. A positive effect of Trichoderma inoculation on seed germination and vigor was observed in the laboratory, with emphasis on the T2 isolate. Growth promoting effects on the M. ilicifolia seedlings were not observed in greenhouse. We suggest to better investigate the interaction between the tested Trichoderma isolates and M. ilicifolia seeds in the presence of aryl. Keywords: Maytenus ilicifolia, medicinal species, growth promoters, beneficial fungi, forest seeds 1. Introduction The search for treatments from medicinal and phytotherapeutic plants in Brazil increased 161% between 2013 and 2015. This increase is largely due to the National Policy on Medicinal Plants and Phytotherapeutics promoted by the Health Ministry, which has been able to promote efforts to disseminate and aggregate species of medicinal value in the Unified Health System-SUS (Brasil, 2016). Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reiss. (Celastraceae) is popularly known as espinheira-santa, is one of the most exploited native forest species in Brazil. Due to its applicability in traditional medicine over the years, and mainly after the pharmacological confirmation of its antiulcerogenic and anti-gastric properties (Di Stasi, 2004; Brasil, 2018) there was an expressive increase of predatory extractive activities among its population in naturally.