Safe Farming: Ultrafine Bubble Water Reduces Insect Infestation and Improves Melon Yield and Quality
Melon pest management relies on the excessive application of pesticides. Reducing pesticide spraying has become a global issue for environmental sustainability and human health. Therefore, developing a new cropping system that is sustainable and eco-friendly is important. This study found that melon...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/4/537 |
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| author | Jo-Chi Hung Ning-Juan Li Ching-Yen Peng Ching-Chieh Yang Swee-Suak Ko |
| author_facet | Jo-Chi Hung Ning-Juan Li Ching-Yen Peng Ching-Chieh Yang Swee-Suak Ko |
| author_sort | Jo-Chi Hung |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Melon pest management relies on the excessive application of pesticides. Reducing pesticide spraying has become a global issue for environmental sustainability and human health. Therefore, developing a new cropping system that is sustainable and eco-friendly is important. This study found that melon seedlings irrigated with ultrafine water containing H<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>2</sub> (UFW) produced more root hairs, increased shoot height, and produced more flowers than the control irrigated with reverse osmosis (RO) water. Surprisingly, we also discovered that UFW irrigation significantly reduced aphid infestation in melons. Based on cryo-scanning electron microscope (cryo-SEM) observations, UFW treatment enhanced trichome development and prevented aphid infestation. To investigate whether it was H<sub>2</sub> or O<sub>2</sub> that helped to deter insect infestation, we prepared UF water enrichment of H<sub>2</sub> (UF+H<sub>2</sub>) and O<sub>2</sub> (UF+O<sub>2</sub>) separately and irrigated melons. Cryo-SEM results indicated that both UF+H<sub>2</sub> and UF+O<sub>2</sub> can increase the density of trichomes in melon leaves and petioles. RT-qPCR showed that UF+H<sub>2</sub> significantly increased the gene expression level of the trichome-related gene <i>GLABRA2</i> (<i>GL2</i>). We planted melons in a plastic greenhouse and irrigated them with ultrafine water enrichment of hydrogen (UF+H<sub>2</sub>) and oxygen (UF+O<sub>2</sub>). The SPAD value, photosynthetic parameters, root weight, fruit weight, and fruit sweetness were all better than the control without ultrafine water irrigation. UFW significantly increased trichome development, enhanced insect resistance, and improved fruit traits. This system thus provides useful water management for pest control and sustainable agricultural production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:17:24Z |
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| id | doaj.art-d6a8e58dc60e4e8ab08dc0d408509a48 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:17:24Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-d6a8e58dc60e4e8ab08dc0d408509a482024-02-23T15:32:01ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-02-0113453710.3390/plants13040537Safe Farming: Ultrafine Bubble Water Reduces Insect Infestation and Improves Melon Yield and QualityJo-Chi Hung0Ning-Juan Li1Ching-Yen Peng2Ching-Chieh Yang3Swee-Suak Ko4Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, TaiwanSeason Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., Tainan 711, TaiwanSeason Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., Tainan 711, TaiwanSeason Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., Tainan 711, TaiwanAgricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, TaiwanMelon pest management relies on the excessive application of pesticides. Reducing pesticide spraying has become a global issue for environmental sustainability and human health. Therefore, developing a new cropping system that is sustainable and eco-friendly is important. This study found that melon seedlings irrigated with ultrafine water containing H<sub>2</sub> and O<sub>2</sub> (UFW) produced more root hairs, increased shoot height, and produced more flowers than the control irrigated with reverse osmosis (RO) water. Surprisingly, we also discovered that UFW irrigation significantly reduced aphid infestation in melons. Based on cryo-scanning electron microscope (cryo-SEM) observations, UFW treatment enhanced trichome development and prevented aphid infestation. To investigate whether it was H<sub>2</sub> or O<sub>2</sub> that helped to deter insect infestation, we prepared UF water enrichment of H<sub>2</sub> (UF+H<sub>2</sub>) and O<sub>2</sub> (UF+O<sub>2</sub>) separately and irrigated melons. Cryo-SEM results indicated that both UF+H<sub>2</sub> and UF+O<sub>2</sub> can increase the density of trichomes in melon leaves and petioles. RT-qPCR showed that UF+H<sub>2</sub> significantly increased the gene expression level of the trichome-related gene <i>GLABRA2</i> (<i>GL2</i>). We planted melons in a plastic greenhouse and irrigated them with ultrafine water enrichment of hydrogen (UF+H<sub>2</sub>) and oxygen (UF+O<sub>2</sub>). The SPAD value, photosynthetic parameters, root weight, fruit weight, and fruit sweetness were all better than the control without ultrafine water irrigation. UFW significantly increased trichome development, enhanced insect resistance, and improved fruit traits. This system thus provides useful water management for pest control and sustainable agricultural production.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/4/537jasmonatemuskmelonnanobubbles waterpest damagetrichomeyield |
| spellingShingle | Jo-Chi Hung Ning-Juan Li Ching-Yen Peng Ching-Chieh Yang Swee-Suak Ko Safe Farming: Ultrafine Bubble Water Reduces Insect Infestation and Improves Melon Yield and Quality Plants jasmonate muskmelon nanobubbles water pest damage trichome yield |
| title | Safe Farming: Ultrafine Bubble Water Reduces Insect Infestation and Improves Melon Yield and Quality |
| title_full | Safe Farming: Ultrafine Bubble Water Reduces Insect Infestation and Improves Melon Yield and Quality |
| title_fullStr | Safe Farming: Ultrafine Bubble Water Reduces Insect Infestation and Improves Melon Yield and Quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Safe Farming: Ultrafine Bubble Water Reduces Insect Infestation and Improves Melon Yield and Quality |
| title_short | Safe Farming: Ultrafine Bubble Water Reduces Insect Infestation and Improves Melon Yield and Quality |
| title_sort | safe farming ultrafine bubble water reduces insect infestation and improves melon yield and quality |
| topic | jasmonate muskmelon nanobubbles water pest damage trichome yield |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/4/537 |
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