The number concentrations of air UFBs were controlled, approximately, by adjusting the generation time. UFB waters, ranging from 1.4 × 108 mL-1 to 1.0 × 109 mL-1, were prepared. Barley seeds were submerged in beakers filled with distilled water and UFB water in a ratio of 10 mL of water per seed. The experimental observations of seed germination clarified the role of UFB number concentrations; that is, a higher number concentration induced earlier seed germination. In addition, excessively high UFB number concentrations caused suppression of seed germination. A possible reason for the positive or negative effects of UFBs on seed germination could be ROS generation (hydroxyl radicals and ∙OH, OH radicals) in UFB water. This was supported by the detection of ESR spectra of the CYPMPO-OH adduct in O2 UFB water. However, the question still remains: how can OH radicals be generated in O2 UFB water?
Keywords: ESR; ROS; nanobubbles; seed germination promotion; ultrafine bubbles (UFBs).