A quality substrate is essential to ensure the proper conditions for the emergence and early development of seedlings. The aim of the present study was to evaluate different proportions of termite mound substrate in the emergence and early development of tomato seedlings. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design, with five treatments constituted by the substrates, with four replications: T 1 : Washed sand (100%); T 2 : Washed sand (75%) + termite mound material (25%); T 3 : Washed sand (50%) + termite mound material (50%); T 4 : Washed sand (25%) + termite mound material (75%) and T 5 : termite mound material (100%). The Santa Clara cultivar (tomato) of Topseed ® was used. The seeds were distributed in gerbox boxes. Emergence, emergence speed index, shoot height, number of leaves, shoot dry mass, root length and root dry mass of tomato seedlings development were evaluated after 25 days. The use of termite mound substrates is a viable alternative to the emergence and development of tomato seedlings. In general, the substrate of termite mound material (100%) was the most promising in the increment of all variables.