Effect of DC Corona Discharge onAmmopiptanthus MongolicusSeeds

Abstract

In this study, a direct-current multineedle-plate corona discharge with different parameters was used to treat <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Ammopiptanthus mongolicus</i> (Maxim. ex Kom. Cheng f.) seeds and study the effect of corona discharge physicochemical etching on these seeds. Results showed that the surface of the seed coat of <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">A. mongolicus</i> had wind erosion after corona discharge treatment, a large number of small ravines were generated and the surface crack of the seed coat was serious. Analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the hydrophilic functional groups increased and corona discharge changed the chemical structure of <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">A. mongolicus</i> seed coat. The apparent contact angle decreased significantly from 99.82° ± 4.86° to 60.11° ± 8.44°, suggesting that corona discharge could significantly improve the hydrophilicity of <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">A. mongolicus</i> seeds. All the corona discharge treatment groups had seed germination at 24 h, whilst the control group had zero germination. This finding suggested that corona discharge treatment could significantly affect the structure and properties of <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">A. mongolicus</i> seed coat, improve the seed hydrophilicity and water absorption rate and promote the germination and growth of <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">A. mongolicus</i> seeds. This study provided ideas and experimental data support for the analysis of the mechanism of corona discharge biotechnology and seed-surface modification.