Ozone treatment of wheat reduces common bunt (Tilletia spp.) infection

Common bunt, a destructive fungal disease of wheat caused by Tilletia infections, poses a significant threat to global production, particularly in organic agriculture due to restrictions on the use of synthetic pesticides. We conducted an in vitro investigation into the efficacy of gaseous ozone in reducing Tilletia spp. associated with common bunt in wheat grains, as well as other fungi naturally present in wheat, including Penicillium spp. Wheat grains inoculated with common bunt spore suspensions (10⁶ Tilletia spores/mL) were subjected to varying concentrations of gaseous ozone (10, 50, and 100 ppm) for 1 and 6 h. Significant reductions in both total fungal count and Tilletia spp. incidence were observed across all ozone treatments (p-value <0.05), with the 100-ppm treatment over 6 h showing the most substantial decreases (82% and 92% for total fungal count and Tilletia spp. incidence, respectively). Counts of Penicillium spp. were significantly reduced with all ozone treatments (p-value <0.05). Grains treated with 10 and 50 ppm ozone had improved wheat germination energy values, while the 100-ppm ozone treatments gave values similar to the control. In conclusion, ozone treatment as a potential effective strategy for common bunt control in wheat, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides used in agriculture.