Application of Oxygen Fertilizers In Rescuing Aged Vegetable Seeds and Alleviating Flooding Stress In Horticulture

The age of vegetable seed plays an important role in vegetable breeding and production because aged seed deteriorates its vigor and the seedling looses its ability to make a clear break from the seed coat.  Flooding is a major stress in Florida’s vegetable production, particularly in hurricane seasons. Aged seed has very low affinity to bio-available oxygen. Thus, aged seed and flooding are both in common in oxygen deficiency. The objectives of this study were to: 1) rescue aged germplasm of vegetable crops in gene banks and enhance seedling quality of commercial seeds by applying liquid oxygen fertilizer; 2) reduce economic loss of flooded crops by using solid oxygen fertilizer; and 3) quantify effect of oxygen fertilization on nitrogen use efficiency of flooded crop seedlings. This study was conducted with 3- to 8-year-old seeds of corn, jack bean, pumpkin, tomato, and velvet bean and basil and corn seedlings with three replications. The results showed that oxygen fertilization simulated germination rates by 64, 22, 23, 37, and 74% and very significantly (P < 0.01) improved seedling quality of the tested crops. With solid oxygen fertilization, fresh yield of flooded basil was 79% greater than that of the control. Its nitrogen use efficiency with oxygen fertilization was 53% greater than that without oxygen fertilization. The N uptake of flooded corn seedlings with oxygen fertilization was 7-fold greater than that of the control. Oxygen fertilization improved redox potential of growth media significantly. Therefore, oxygen fertilization is an effective method to protect germplasm resources and enhance N use efficiency and crop productivity under flooding stress.