ISSN 2756-3790
International Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture ISSN 2167-0455 Vol. 7 (6), pp. 001-005, June, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Short Communication
Aqueous ozone in the root zone: Friend or foe?
Thomas Graham*, Ping Zhang and Michael Dixon
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
Accepted 16 March, 2019
Abstract
Aqueous ozone (O3(aq)) solutions were applied to the rockwool substrate of hydroponically cultured tomato and cucumber plants. Single applications of high concentration solutions (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 mg/L), as well as repeated application of lower concentration solutions (0, 2, 4, 6 mg/L), had no impact on leaf area and shoot dry weight accumulation. Repeated O3(aq) applications were also applied to cucumber plants inoculated with Pythium aphanidermatum. Pathogen levels were significantly reduced in all treatments containing O3(aq). The reduction in pathogen numbers did not necessarily affect plant productivity.
Key words: Pythium aphanidermatum, irrigation water reuse, oxygenation, tomato, cucumber, rockwool, hydroponics, phytotoxicity.