Ozone can make corn grow faster?

Posted by Joel Leusink on May 19, 2011 under Ozone food | Be the First to Comment

It is corn planting season here in Iowa. In honor of this, I though I would share the following. A paper was written recently on the effect of corn seed germination after exposure to ozone.

Effect of Oxidative Treatment on Corn Seed Germination Kinetics
Authors: Freacutedeacuteric Violleaua; Kheira Hadjebaa; Joël Albetbc; Roland Cazalisa; Olivier Surela

Abstract:
Corn seeds were treated with high purity oxygen ([O3] = 0 g/m3) and oxygen mixed with ozone ([O3] = 20 g/m3) during 6.8 or 20.5 minutes. Germination tests started immediately or 48 h after treatment. Effects of oxidative treatments on germination were determined by measuring seedlings and roots (>3 and >20 mm) rate at 3, 4 and 5 days of germination test. Results obtained for treated seed samples were higher than for untreated ones. A faster start of germination was observed for treated samples. This early germination start led to a larger number of germinated seeds with longer roots at 4 and 5 days. Nevertheless, too long an ozone treatment seemed to be unfavorable for seed growth, whereas a short one seemed to be most beneficial.

Link to paper from the Journal of the International Ozone Association

See image below from the paper:

This testing did show faster germination of the corn seed, and larger roots on the germinated seed after 4-5 days.  This is fun research, and could be a new use for ozone in agriculture?