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Dr. Peter Konjoian
Konjoian's Florticulture
Education Services
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This month’s OFA Short Course marks the one year anniversary of Selectrocide’s launch into the horticulture market. In an earlier column I explained our strategy of managing this exciting product’s rollout in a deliberate manner, a controlled launch is how we describe the marketing effort.
During the past year we installed Selectrocide injection systems in about two dozen greenhouse operations throughout Griffin’s territory. Our sales team is currently visiting these early adopters to review progress, assess results, and address concerns. As we analyze these reports the information gathered will help us better serve you as Selectrocide moves forward.
I continue reminding fellow growers to remember my early comments, which are worth repeating. Chlorine dioxide is the most effective biocide known to man. Selective Micro Technologies’ breakthrough in generating a safe, effective, and nearly pure solution of chlorine dioxide is making it possible for us to bring this worldclass sanitizer to a very applied industry such as ours. To succeed, responsible management must be practiced as considerable education must accompany Griffin’s sales effort. That’s where Rick Yates and I, along with the entire Griffin technical support network come in. We are hear to help you learn how to think differently in order to finally control microbial contamination in the greenhouse. Learning how to raise the level of greenhouse sanitation will lower crop losses, produce healthier crops, and result in higher profit margins.
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In the meantime, as early adoption proceeded, our research team continued to press on with its work. Our second national article in GMPRO magazine was published in last month’s June issue,and the third will appear in next month’s August issue. The GMPRO series is following our work in irrigation system design optimization. We’ve identified common flaws in irrigation systems that are contributing to algae and microbial contamination in the greenhouse environment.
As I have promised, our research with Selectrocide is transitioning from irrigation system treatment to plant health benefits. Currently, laboratory research is underway with Dr. Rob Wick, Plant Pathologist at the University of Massachusetts. Selectrocide and other products are being tested to determine efficacy in killing plant pathogens. Once Rob completes the laboratory phase of the project we will shift the Selectrocide work to my research greenhouse where ebb and flood benches have been installed. Pythium control in recirculating irrigation systems will be our primary concern, with other pathogens to be studied as we proceed. If all goes well, we expect to have initial recommendations for Selectrocide use in recirculating systems by year’s end.
Returning to our scheduled education efforts, the GMPRO series will continue with articles scheduled for November of this year and February of next. I and several colleagues are working with OFA on a water treatment panel presentation at this month’s OFA Short Course which will turn into article(s) in upcoming OFA Bulletins. A different panel of experts will speak on water treatment at this fall’s New England Greenhouse Conference. Joining me on that program are Landon Merrill, Senior Microbiologist at Selective Micro Technologies and Dr. Douglas Cox from UMass.
What are your expectations?
As a result of early adoption experiences, some review is needed regarding algae control expectations around the greenhouse. We’re learning that some growers expected Selectrocide to eliminate algae completely and immediately from their operations. Let’s take a minute to revisit some of the scientific findings that have come out of the research.
First, algae enters greenhouses in every water source we’ve worked with to date. Biofilms are present in all of our untreated irrigation lines. Biofilm and algae work hand in hand to support each other, and when we inject fertilizer into the line this relationship flourishes.
Using Selecrocide in the irrigation system will strip biofilm and algae buildups and sanitize the water flowing through the system. Technically, scientists learn to avoid words like “eliminate” because, after all, how can one possibly prove “elimination”. In order to prove this, every drop of water would need to be analyzed, continuously, which is impossible. So, we use the word “control” to be more accurate. That said, you have probably heard me use the word eliminate when referencing biofilm and algae control in the irrigation system. What I’m trying to say is that, practically speaking, we’re eliminating algae from entering the greenhouse through the irrigation system to cause problems.
As important as the water supply, we have documented algae in peat moss and peat based growing media. However, in a container algae needs sunlight to grow so it’s only on the surface that we need to be concerned. Therefore, what should our expectation be for surface algae control on the growing medium?
I’ve had my greenhouse range on continuous injection for two years. My best guess is that, prior to treatment my propagation success rate was in the 50 percent range. That isn’t saying that only 50 percent of seeds and cuttings survived, but that algae caused problems in about half of my work. Since Selectrocide treatment I estimate my success rate has improved to about 80 percent. Prior to injection, I calculated several thousands of dollars of seedling plug losses each season due to surface algae. So, treating my irrigation system has, in round numbers, cut my seedling plug problems from 50 to 20 percent, a little more than in half. In the algae equation, treating the irrigation system and water has taken out that portion of the damage caused by algae delivered through irrigation. Next, we’re focusing on how to best manage the algae near the soil surface.
Here I use the word manage because we believe the goal of Selectrocide treatment in propagation is to delay the blooming of algae (remember it’s in the peat) long enough for seedlings to develop to the point where their canopy covers the plug tray. Once the canopy forms, sunlight reaching the medium surface is reduced resulting in less algae pressure.
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We are tackling the remaining 20 percent of my sowings that continue to develop algae with some neat ideas. One approach producing early success is sprenching the plug tray after sowing with higher concentrations of Selectrocide to further battle the algae, coming to us in the peat, at the growing medium surface.
Lastly, I’m pleased to share with you progress Selectrocide has made in the fruit and vegetable industry. Back in May a case of cantaloupes arrived at the SMT office. Each of us took a melon home, I snapped pictures of mine before slicing it. In the accompanying closeup picture of the side of the fruit, take a close look at the sticker. Selectrocide treated fruits and vegetables will become commonplace in your grocery store in the months and years to follow. It’s all about teaching growers, distributors, and supermarkets how to take advantage of chlorine dioxide’s potential.
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