Choosing a Disinfectant for Tools and Surfaces in Horticultural Operations
Disinfecting tools and surfaces is one good way to limit the spread of disease-causing pathogens to healthy plant materials in greenhouses, nurseries, and farms, as well as gardens and landscapes. Disinfecting and sterilizing tools and surfaces does not guarantee you will not have plant diseases, but including these practices in your day to day routine can have a big impact on how often disease outbreaks happen and how severe they are. It limits the size of the disease outbreak when it first happens and provides a better opportunity to manage the disease successfully in other ways.
Growers, landscape managers, and gardeners should clean their tools and work surfaces (including floors) with a surface disinfectant. Surface disinfectants are substances that kill or reduce the growth of disease-causing microorganisms. Numerous types of products can be used to disinfect tools and surfaces.
Here are some of the things to look for in a disinfectant:
Fast action
Control of many different pathogens
Ability to work on surfaces that may have soil, peat, or plant material present
User safety
Non-corrosive
Convenient to use
Affordable
Each disinfectant has advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before one is selected. Table 1 offers help in choosing a disinfectant to disinfect horticultural tools and surfaces. It includes a list of the common types of disinfectants, the pros and cons of each, recommendations on how to use them, and where you can buy them.
No matter which disinfectant you choose, the most important thing is to use it. To get the best results, disinfect tools each time you move to a different plant. A helpful tip is to have several tools that you can alternate between plants. While you are using one, the other can be soaking in the disinfectant.
Disinfectant |
Products |
Pros |
Cons |
How to use |
Where to buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quaternary ammonium salts |
Green-Shield Physan 20 Triathlon |
Very effective Stable (solution lasts for longer period) Not corrosive |
Little residual activity Not as effective if mixed with hard water or organic matter |
Follow label directions |
Horticulture supply vendors (Hummert, Grower Supply, etc.) |
Hydrogen dioxides |
ZeroTol Oxidate |
Less toxic More biodegradable Some products recognized as “organic” |
Corrosive Effective on only a limited number of pathogens Life span of solution is short |
Follow label directions |
Horticulture supply vendors (Hummert, Grower Supply, etc.) |
Chlorine bleach
|
|
Inexpensive Effective |
Corrosive Fumes can be harmful Short life span of bleach solution (after 2 hours, solution’s effectiveness is reduced by about half), requires fresh batches immediately before disinfecting tools Not as effective against viruses |
10% bleach solution (1 part bleach : 9 parts water) 30-minute soak Rinse with water after soak |
Grocery and hardware stores and home improvement centers |
Alcohol |
Ethanol Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol |
Immediately effective (no soaking) Can be used as wipe No need to rinse |
Flammable |
Wipe or dip tool in 70% to 100% alcohol |
Grocery stores and pharmacies |
Trisodium phosphates |
TSP |
Inexpensive |
Very corrosive |
10% solution (1 part TSP : 9 parts water) |
Hardware stores and home improvement centers (used to clean surfaces for painting) |
Pine oil products |
Original Pine-Sol |
Not corrosive |
Not as effective |
25% solution (1 part pine oil : 3 parts water) |
Grocery and hardware stores and home improvement centers |
Household & commercial disinfectants |
Lysol Listerine EndBacII Steriphene II |
Easy to find Usually not corrosive |
Little research on effectiveness of products against plant pathogens Relatively expensive |
Full strength spray or dip depending on the product |
Grocery and hardware stores, home improvement centers, janitorial supply companies |
Adapted from Denny and Vallad, 2009 Publication #ENH1121
Reference
Denny, G.C. & G.E. Vallad. 2009. “Disinfection of Horticultural Tools.” UF-IFAS Extension Publication ENH 1121.
The information given here is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products, trade names, or suppliers are made with the understanding that no endorsement is implied and that no discrimination against other products or suppliers is intended. Always read and follow the product label.
Information Sheet 1955 (POD-12-19)
By Geoffrey C. Denny, PhD, Assistant Extension Professor, Plant and Soil Sciences.
Copyright 2020 by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved. This publication may be copied and distributed without alteration for nonprofit educational purposes provided that credit is given to the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
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