Far-UV Technology

Destroy Powdery Mildew

The GermBuster Sabre destroys powdery mildew on plants

What is Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that can affect cannabis plants. It appears as a white or grayish powdery substance on the leaves, stems, and buds of the plant. The fungal spores can quickly spread from plant to plant and can lead to a decrease in yield, potency, and overall plant health.

Some of the ways powdery mildew can affect cannabis plants include:

•  Reduced growth: Powdery mildew can slow down the growth of the plant by blocking the pores on the leaves and preventing proper photosynthesis.
•  Lower yields: If left untreated, powdery mildew can cause the plant to produce smaller buds, leading to lower yields.
•  Decreased potency: Powdery mildew can also affect the potency of the cannabis by reducing the levels of cannabinoids and terpenes.
•  Increased susceptibility to other diseases: If a cannabis plant is infected with powdery mildew, it becomes more vulnerable to other diseases and pests.

Overall, powdery mildew can have a significant impact on the health and yield of cannabis plants. It is important to identify and treat powdery mildew as soon as possible to prevent its spread and minimize its effects.

What is Far-UV

Far-UV Light: Light consists of photons that have distinct wavelengths.  Far-UV photons are in the band (185-245 nm) of the UV spectrum that is furthest from visible light.  The shortness of Far-UV wavelength provides very high photon energy which is able to break biomolecular bonds causing physical destruction of all microbes.  Far-UV is uniquely SAFE, EFFECTIVE, and FAST!

SAFE: Far-UV (222 nm) lamps are designed to destroy all microorganisms unlike other ‘germicidal’ uv sources.  Its short wavelength is safe for people to be in the light zone because it does not penetrate the skin epidermis nor the surface oil layer of eyes.  In addition to inactivating pathogens such as PM, Far-UV light kills pests effectively without harming people or plants.  The USDA, several universities, and corporations have chosen Sterilray products for all of their testing on many agricultural applications.

EFFECTIVE: Many tests have shown that Sterilray Inc.’s products are the best and most effective means to remove bacteria, viruses, mold, fungus, and mildew spores from circulating air.  It can achieve 99.98% kill in 1/8 second treatment time as they pass the lamp in a duct or exposed in a line-of sight air zone.  The emitted photons photo-disinfect surfaces, air, and liquids at up to 1000 times more effective than any other uv light.  It does this by targeting the protein molecules that make up the nitrogenous bases of DNA and RNA biomolecules and the viral capsid or the outer membranes of all other microorganisms.  It kills small insects and destroys their eggs at dose levels that do not affect plant functions or features.

FAST: Light photons travel 1000 feet in one microsecond.  Photons from the lamp reach an opposing wall in 1/20 of a microsecond.  At 500 feet per minute air flow, it can achieve 4-log reduction in bacteria at a treatment time less than 1/8 second.  That means that Far-UV line-of-sight disinfection can prevent viruses from surviving any airborne trip inside a light zone of a Far-UV lamp.

The USDA used Sterilray, Inc. lamps to show Far-UV (222 nm) was more effective than other uv wavelengths for killing strawberry pathogens on the plants and fruit with no negative effect on plant photosynthesis, pollen germ tube growth and fruit set.

“We found that 222 nm far UV was three-to ten-fold more effective than 254 nm UV-C in killing conidia of these pathogens, did not require a dark period for enhancing its efficacy, and had no negative effect on plant photosynthesis, pollen germ tube growth and fruit set at doses required to kill these pathogens. The superiority of 222 nm far UV over 254 nm UV-C light in killing different strawberry pathogens on surfaces of the medium as well as on strawberry fruit was demonstrated.”  

 Potential of far ultraviolet (UV) 222 nm light for management of strawberry fungal pathogens
 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2021.105791

GermBuster Cannabis showing cut away of Far-UV Sterilray lamp.

Arrange an assessment for your cannabis facility today.

Far-UV Sterilray significantly reduces insect transmission

mites, aphids, thrips and whiteflies 

Stop Whitefly transmitted Hop Latent Viroid & viruses

Lettuce Chlorosis & Cannabis Cryptic Virus

GermBuster Cannabis in a Cannabis flower room

Order 222nm Products Today

603-516-2050                     info@sterilray.com

There are now dozens of studies that have proven the efficacy and safety of Far-UV Sterilray. Fortunately, the world is finally taking notice of this technology for air, surface and liquid disinfection. Sterilray, Inc has available a variety of products to treat the air, surfaces or air and surfaces. (Click on photos to enlarge)

GermBuster HVAC

HVAC units generally support high volumetric air flows exceeding 2000 CFM to over 40,000 CFM.  These units use Sterilray lamps at power levels of 150 watts, 250 watts, and 500 watts.  Special lamps are available that operate at 1,000 watts. All contained air disinfection units can utilize the Far-UV Sterilray™ lamp that is specifically designed to destroy fungus, mold, and mildew spores.

GermBuster Sabre

The GermBuster Sabre provide mobile surface and air disinfection where needed and can be powered by either an ac wall power or with an EGO-56 volt DC battery.  Recent data finds that a 30 second sweep over a plant showing first signs of powdery mildew stops all genotypes of PM for about two weeks.  It is ideal for disinfecting tables, other surfaces, tools and boxes for bacteria or the RNA of Hop Latent Viroid.

GermBuster Air Duct

GermBuster Air Duct

The GermBuster Air Duct is designed to treat multiple rooms serviced by an air duct heat/cooling system.  It is designed to provide ‘Single-Pass Kill’ of everything in the air using different size lamps to fit different size ducts and volumetric air flow rates.  It is designed to fit into one 4” hole on the duct side so all light is contained.

GermBuster Luminaire

The GermBuster Luminaire ceiling mount fixture design has been carefully conceived to provide direct high-level disinfection for air or surfaces. They are available at different power levels to fit different room sizes and locations.  They are ideal where plants are not present such as dispensaries, conference rooms, and store open spaces.

GermBuster ésconce

The GermBuster ésconce when properly placed on the wall in a room can equate to greater than 300 air changes per hour.

They are available at different power levels to fit different room sizes and locations.  They are ideal where plants are not present such as dispensaries, conference rooms, and store open spaces.

GermBuster Cannabis

The GermBuster Cannabis is designed to clear the air of particles, all microorganisms and odors in individual grow rooms and can easily be added into a Can-Filter or Vortex system in minutes.  The unit can be run 24/7 even in dark rooms with 30,000-hour lamp lifetime.  Ideal locations are flowering or dry rooms, any common area before entering a grow room and the shipping area to provide air disinfection before entering the building.
multiple GermBuster Cannabis units showing different sizes of filters and blowers.
GermBuster Air Duct installed in a Vegas Cannabis Grow

two 500 watt 23″ GermBuster Duct lamp is 48×24″ boxes to treat incoming air. By leaving the ends open we are also treating the air in the entire upper portion of the facility. 222nm photons travel at the speed of light until they hit something, destroying all airborne pathogens in their path.

Far-UV Safety

222nm does not penetrate the stratum corneum

Unlike germicidal UVC light, Far-UV light cannot penetrate either the human stratum corneum (the outer dead-cell skin layer), nor the cytoplasm of individual human cells. Thus, Far-UV light cannot reach or damage living cells in the human skin, in contrast to the conventional germicidal UV light which can reach these sensitive cells.

Far-UV does not penetrate the cornea

222nm light is safe for eye exposure as shown with FDA IRB evaluation of live corneal ulcer patients. There is zero endothelial and epithelium toxicity during the treatment time required to destroy the infection. It is a shorter wavelength with photon energy greater than most biomolecule chemical bond energies. These photons are chemical bond breakers.

Contact us for an assessment of your cannabis grow

 

603-516-2050                     info@sterilray.com