Gas-phase hydroxyl radical treatment for rapid pest control and plant pathogen resistance

Overview

This technology uses gas-phase advanced oxidative processes to generate hydroxyl radicals, providing a rapid, chemical-free approach to pest control and plant pathogen management. Exposure to hydroxyl radicals has been shown to reduce microbial loads of human and plant pathogens while simultaneously modulating plant physiology to extend shelf-life and stimulate systemic acquired resistance. Unlike traditional UV-B or UV-C treatments that require days or minutes of exposure, this hydroxyl radical treatment can be applied within seconds, making it commercially feasible for both pre- and post-harvest applications.

Technical specifications

How it works:

• Hydroxyl radicals are generated through UV-C mediated degradation of hydrogen peroxide and ozone
• Treatment time is approximately 15 seconds, enabling rapid processing
• The radicals inactivate pests and pathogens on contact
• The treatment also triggers the plant's natural defense mechanisms, stimulating systemic acquired resistance

Validated applications:

• Microgreens: microbial reduction and physiological modulation
• Strawberries: pathogen inactivation and shelf-life extension
• Avocado: pathogen control and post-harvest quality preservation

Key advantages:

• Seconds-long treatment time compared to days for UV-B or minutes for UV-C
• Avoids chemical pesticide residues
• Dual action: direct pathogen inactivation plus induced plant immunity
• Potential for both pre-harvest crop protection and post-harvest produce treatment

Technology readiness level

The technology has been validated on three produce types (microgreens, strawberries, and avocado), demonstrating microbial reduction of human and plant pathogens as well as modulation of plant physiology for shelf-life extension. Future work will focus on microgreens as a model system, evaluating different radical concentrations and exposure regimes to verify direct inactivation of larvae and stimulation of systemic acquired resistance through biomarker monitoring. Quality metrics will be assessed for both pre- and post-harvest treatments. The technology is at an advanced validation stage, moving toward broader crop trials and commercial scale-up.