Disinfection & Sterilization Effects of UVC for Cannabis
UVC has the shortest wavelength and it is almost absorbed by atmosphere. Previous researches shown that there was no significant change in cannabinoids with the exposure to UVC. Thus, UVC is rarely used to promote cannabis growing. However, UVC has powerful disinfection and sterilization effects, which is helpful to improve cannabis production. The peak UV absorption of DNA, RNA and nucleoprotein in microorganism is between 254 nm and 257 nm, which is exactly in UVC range (100 - 280 nm). The UV absorption causes DNA strand breaks, leading to cross-linking of nucleic acids and proteins, killing the biological activity of nucleic acids, and causing the death of microorganism. As a result, UVC is utilized to prevent or mitigate the microorganisms that are negative to cannabis growth.
What Are the Common Types of Microorganisms that Affect Cannabis
Some of the microorganisms are threatening to cannabis. These microorganisms includes mold, fungus, bacteria, etc. Each of them has a large number of species. The common types of microorganisms that affects production and health of cannabis are botrytis cinera, fusarium oxysporum, and golovinomyces orontii. Botrytis is known as ‘bud rot’, a type of fungus that affect the buds of cannabis generally. It is not easy to identify at the early stage, but it may develops brown or gray spots from the inside out. Fusarium oxysporum can cause root rot. The roots turn to be brown and mushy if cannabis is infected by this microorganisms. Golovinomyces orontii is widely known as powdery mildew. Powdery mildews are recognized by the white and powdery leaves. Powdery mildews will damage the stems and buds if they are not controlled in time. Periodically monitor and control are critical as these common microorganisms are potential to kill the cannabis plants under heavy infections.
How UVC Disinfects and Sterilizes Cannabis
UVC disinfects and sterilizes cannabis through two ways, germicidal effects and biological response. The germicidal effects of UVC on infection are based on the ability to damage DNA. Microorganisms are damaged and discolored when they are exposed to UVC in certain period. Researches shown that powdery mildews were reduced significantly under short exposures to UVC in growing stage. But the exposures should be low enough not to hurt the cannabis plants while high enough to kill the powdery mildews. Another effect is resulted due to the biological response of cannabis itself. As we all know that there is photoreceptor in plants, but there is also a photoreceptor to UVC. When cannabis plants are exposed to UVC, they will constantly adjust themselves to acclimate the environment. One of the distinct changes is being more vigorous to against infection. Working with germicidal effects and biological response, UVC allows more robust and healthier growth of cannabis to achieve higher yields.
When Should UVC Be Applied to Cannabis
Common types of microorganisms that are detrimental to cannabis as mentioned before, are airborne. The humid and warm environments, especially indoor growing environment, contribute to proliferate the growth of these microorganisms. Once a plant is infected, these microorganisms can spread rapidly to other plants or even the whole room with the help of air ventilation system. It is a great challenge to prevent and control the detrimental microorganisms. In consequence, UVC are nearly used throughout the whole production process of cannabis.
Cannabis seeds are exposed to UVC to kill about 99% surface pathogens without any undue harm to seeds. Seed disinfection ensures the seeds are health and non-infected, blocking possible pathogens issues in the future. UVC is utilized during cannabis growing as well. UVC acts as a supplement lighting to LED grow lights in common. UVC lights are placed on a track or simply overhead to provide consistent disinfection. They can be installed upright or horizontally according to specific need. UVC is also used to disinfect water source during cannabis growth. Root rot is occurred as the polluted water source. Disinfection on water source prevent root rot effectively. During drying and curing period, UVC is functional as well. UVC is capable of destroying the surface pathogen, odors, and spores, protecting cannabis from infection.
What Are the Benefits of UVC Disinfection and Sterilization on Cannabis
The main benefits of UVC disinfection and sterilization on cannabis is chemical-free. UVC is able to offer strong disinfection and sterilization to cannabis in a short time. Any surface can be disinfected and sterilized in short exposure with UVC. The process is easy and environmentally friendly. Though fungicides and pesticides are used broadly to protect the plants from diseases, there is still a risk of chemical residue. The chemical residues are harmful to human health. These chemical contaminants may also pollute the water source. UVC, however, is cleaner and non-toxic to eliminate pathogens.
Other benefits include the easy operation, quick turnover times, low maintenance, and stable performance. Once the UVC lights are installed, you just need to turn on or off the lights for disinfection and sterilization. As UVC can accomplish the works in minutes, quick turnover times are achieved. Since UVC is not affected by the environment, like temperature and humidity, it has stable performance.
Although UVC is beneficial for disinfecting and sterilizing cannabis, it is hazardous to our skin and eyes. Therefore, we should avoid direct exposure to UVC.
