Effect of Ozone on the Degradation of Panax notoginseng Autotoxic Saponins and the Inhibition of Root Rot Pathogens

Purpose To determine the effects of ozone treatment on the germination and growth of Panax notoginseng in continuous cropping soil and the degradation of autotoxic ginsenosides and the inhibitory of root rot pathogens.

Methods The effects of different mass concentrations of ozone water on the seed germination and growth of P. notoginseng in continuous cropping soil were investigated. The degradation of autotoxic ginsenosides R₁, Rg₁, Re, Rd and Rg₂ by ozone was studied by HPLC. The inhibition effect of ozone on the main root rot pathogens was studied by colony counting method.

Results When the concentration of ozone water ranged from 0.3 to 0.6 mg/L, the seed germination and plant growth were significantly increased in continuous cropping soil, but there were no significance in the plant weight, fresh weight and root dry weight among different concentrations and water does treatments. Ozone could significantly degrade the main autotoxic ginsenosides, inhibit the growth of root rot pathogens Fusarium solani and Cylindrocarpon destructans.

Conclusion Ozone water treatment can significantly increase the seed germination and plant growth of P. notoginseng in continuous cropping soil by degrading the main autotoxic ginsenosides and inhibiting the major root rot pathogens.