Selection of F1 Hybrid cyclamen Youtube Instagram Facebook A national collection

Culture

Professional area | Culture factsheet | Nutrient solution | Biological quality of the nutrient solution

Nutrient solution

Biological quality of the nutrient solution

The origin of the water used, and its biological quality, can present certain dangers of infection.

Water should be tested for micro-organisms before use.

> Biological quality of the nutrient solution

Like the growing medium, the nutrient solution can readily harbour disease. At the start of the growing cycle the root microflora are not well enough developed to compete if need be with pathogenic organisms. The biological characteristics of the growing medium can be controlled, as can the various pests and disease vectors (e.g. insects) by preventive practices and chemical controls; which leaves the water used for watering and for making up nutrient solutions as the main potential source of contamination.

 

Water quality is therefore one factor that must be checked and controlled; and to do this certain reliable indicators must be established which can be checked throughout the growing cycle.  The biological quality of the water depends on where it comes from: drinking water mains, well water, rainwater, reservoir or river water. These last three sources of supply generally provide poor quality water, though rainwater can be slightly better than the others, depending on how it is stored.

 

The nutrient solution itself should be assayed biologically so as to determine how contamination levels are changing over time, especially when it is recycled. In practice, microscopic organisms can be detected once they are present in sufficient quantities for the means used, each of which has its detection threshold. Moreover, there are micro-organisms which cannot be cultured.

Current means of detection are incresasingly based on the use of specific antibodies aimed at particular organisms (the ELISA method) or PCR amplification of DNA.

These techniques allow an overall count of micro-organisms without allowing for the fact that some are harmless, and that not all strains are equally virulent. It is not easy therefore to make an assessment of the real dangers of disease involved in the use of nutrient solutions.

 

There are various physical, chemical and biological resources we can deploy in order to reduce the risks.

> Form of treatment

1 > Physical

  • heat treatment, raising the temperature to 95ºC (203ºF) for 30 seconds and then cooling.
  • ozone treatment (costly), by bubbling ozone through the nutrient solution (8 to 10 g/h/c.m). The pH must be lowered to 4 before this disinfecting treatment, and the ozone must be eliminated afterwards
  • UV irradiation (at levels depending on the optical density of the solution, its cleanness and the age of the lamps)
  • - sand filtration, which may or may not be fully effective. The upper part of the filter must be renewed frequently, and the filter must be protected from light.

2 > Chemical

Mixing plant protection products into the nutrient solution is a widespread practice among growers.

3 > Biological

This only applies to some of the nutrient solution and is never total. A system could be devised for putting in control organisms.

 

We should point out also that the temperature of the nutrient solution itself has an effect on the multiplication and survival of the disease organisms (Lemanceau et. al., 1995). Work since 1995 has also demonstrated that a low oxygen content in the nutrient solution encourages certain strains of Pythium which then become more virulent.

> Reference

LEMANCEAU P., LETARD M., STEINBERG C.- Qualité biologique de la solution nutritive. P.H.M. Revue Horticole, n°363, Octobre 1995, p. 24-29

Caution

This advice sheet is based on the methods used at the SCEA at Montourey (Fréjus, France). These procedures may need some modification to adapt them to other climatic situations. Before starting to grow cyclamen there needs to be a review of precautions against pests and diseases.   We must point out that our advice and suggestions are offered for information purposes and therefore cannot include any guarantee of specific results; it is a good idea to carry out trials beforehand.

 

Nutrient solution :

S.A.S Morel Diffusion

2565, rue de Montourey
83600 Fréjus - France

International telephone : +33 (0)4 94 19 73 04
Switchboard : + 33 (0)4 94 19 73 00
Fax : +33 (0)4 94 19 73 19

Contact our<br/>Technical Adviser
Contact our
Technical Adviser