Disinfection using ozone microbubbles to inactivate Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum

To establish a method for disinfecting hydroponic culture solutions using ozone microbubbles (OMB), we examined the disinfectant activity of OMB against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum in infected plant roots. OMB had a higher solubility and remained in the water for a longer period than ozone millibubbles, resulting in extremely high disinfecting activity against both phytopathogens. Furthermore, disinfectant activity and durability of OMB-treated water against both phytopathogens increased with an increase in the initial concentration of dissolved ozone. Therefore, these results suggest that OMB may be suitable for use as a new disinfectant against phytopathogens in hydroponic culture solutions.