Ozone Garden Training

Learning to identify ozone damage

Symptoms of ozone injury develop on the leaves of sensitive plant species during the growing season if ozone concentrations are relatively high for extended periods of time. Ozone injury is cumulative, so symptoms become more severe the longer leaves are exposed to high ozone concentrations. Therefore, symptoms of injury are typically worse in the late summer and early fall.

This example will illustrate ozone injury on a sensitive variety of the snap bean plant, but keep in mind that ozone injury can look slightly different on other types of plants. Next, you will learn the specific characteristics that distinguish ozone damage from damage caused by insects, diseases, and other environmental factors.

Ozone Damage Training Game

View the pictures below and determine if the leaf has been affected by ozone damage or not by examining the leaf picture then clicking on the "YES" or "NO" buttons. Then click on "Next Question" to view a new leaf picture. Once you are ready head to our Data Entry page to start entering leaf data.

To summarize, ozone injury:
  • Starts as stipple, but can progress to yellowing and patches of tissue death
  • Typically occurs on the top surface of the leaf
  • Only occurs between the leaf veins
  • Accumulates through time
  • Affects older leaves