Abstract
Effects of slightly acidic electrolyzed water volatilized by a forced-air vaporizing system on plant growth and the control of powdery mildew in cucumber seedlings were investigated. The volatilization of electrolyzed water was automatically done for 12 h from 18:00 to 06:00 in specific on- and off-cycles. Thereby, it was considered possible to reduce application. The volatilization effectively avoided the attachment of excessive water to the leaves and also suppressed the spread of infection. However, the volatilized electrolyzed water caused a visible physiological disorder on the leaves and pericarp, especially when it was continuously applied at intervals of a 10-min application and 20-min suspension cycle. When the on- and off-cycle was prolonged to 10 and 110 min, respectively, the physiological disorder did not occur but progression of the disease was not prevented. Progression of the disease was inhibited on the application of a 10-min on- and 50-min off-cycle but leaf growth was also retarded. In addition, spread of the disease symptom was not well-inhibited by volatilization after appearance of the disease symptom. Both growth inhibition of the leaves and expansion of the disease symptom were avoided by spraying fungicides at the young seedling stage, and then volatilizing the electrolyzed water with a 10-min on- and 50-min off-cycle when the plants reached the maturing stage.
