Effect of Ozone Exposure to Carrot Seed on the Germination and Early Growth

Abstract

Carrot seed was selected to determine the most appropriate ozone exposure condition which promote the germination percentage and early growth. The ozone gas from an ozonizer with an oxygen bomb was mixed to clean air and was introduced into an exposing and germinating vessel.
The high level exposure conditions consist of some ozone concentrations of 0-5 ppm and some exposure times of 24-72 hr, the other side, the low level conditions consist of an exposure time of 24 hr and some ozone concentrations of 0-2 ppm.
At the high level conditions, the germination percentage was slightly progressed and the mean days of germination was more uniform when the long exposure. However, the early growth was obstructed at the high concentration.
At the low level conditions, the germination characteristics were progressed through all ozone concentrations, particularly, the germination percentage rose to about 77% from 60% of general case at the low ozone concentration. The early growth also increased at low concentration, the fresh weight of top was about 1.34 times and that of root was about 1.65 times of the control. On the other hand, the dry weight of top was about 1.32 times and that of root was about 1.2 times, respectively.