Applicability of ozone on the morphological productive and grain quality performance of wheat

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation in Brazil's subtropical climate is generally affected by heavy rainfall during the reproductive period, up to harvest, causing significant economic losses and, most importantly, compromising grain quality due to mycotoxin infection by the fungus Fusarium. Seeking to reduce toxins in wheat grains, this study evaluated the effects of ozone application and phosphate fertilization on morphological and productive performance. The following treatments were applied to the TBIO Trunfo cultivar: T1 – ozone on the seed + phosphate at sowing; T2 – phosphate only at sowing; T3 – control; T4 – ozone only on the seed. The occurrence of pests and weeds in the plots, plant diseases, and morphological and productive characteristics were evaluated. In the analysis of the interaction between factors, the application of phosphate at sowing along with ozone on the seeds favored the increase in grain yield characteristics and vegetative development of the plants, with a lower incidence of diseases.