Effect of Ozone Treatments on Germination and Disinfection of Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) Seeds

ABSTRACT

The objectives were to evaluate the ozonation effects on germination and disinfection of sashi inchi seeds. Seeds groups were treated applying concentrations of gaseous ozone of 5 and 20 mg/L for 20 min. Others were immersed in water with dissolved ozone (0.5 and 1.0 mg/L) during 15 min. Ozone did not register negative effects on germination or on the quality of the seeds. Treatments with lower ozone concentrations recorded the best results in germination percentage and vigor indicator (86%, 94% and 84%). The gaseous phase was the most suitable one for treating the seeds (5 mg/L for 20 min). Only a treated group reached greater seedlings survival (53%), resisting the fungal attack. Applied disinfection allowed reducing the microbial load.

KEYWORDS:

• Disinfectant agent
• germination
• oleaginous seeds
• ozonation
• sasha inchi

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the National Center for Scientific Research (CNIC). The authors also thank the collaboration of the Research Center for Protein Plants and Bionatural Products of Cuba.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.