Effect of High-Voltage Atmospheric Cold Plasma Treatment on Germination and Heavy Metal Uptake by Soybeans (Glycine max).

Shikhadri Mahanta,Mohammad Ruzlan Habib,Janie Mcclurkin Moore

doi:10.3390/ijms23031611

Shikhadri Mahanta, Mohammad Ruzlan Habib + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23031611

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Abstract

The need to feed 9.9 billion people by 2050 will require the coordination of farming practices and water utilization by nutrient-dense plants and crops. High levels of lead (Pb), a toxic element that can accumulate in plants, can lead to toxicity in humans. With the development of novel treatment technologies, such as atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) and engineered nanoparticles (NPs), the time to germination and levels of heavy metals in food and feed commodities can be reduced. This study provides insight into the impact of plasma-activated water (PAW) on the germination rates and effects of soybean seeds, and the resultant combination effects of zinc oxide uptake in the presence of lead. Soybean seedlings were watered with PAW (treated for 3, 5, and 7 min at 30, 50, and 70 kV), and the germination and growth rate were monitored for 10 days. The germinated seedlings were then grown hydroponically in a nutrient solution, and the biomass of each example was measured. The PAW treatment that resulted in the best growth of soybean seeds was then exposed to Pb and zinc-oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) to investigate heavy metal uptake in the presence of nanoparticles. After acid digestion, the rate of heavy metal uptake by the soybean plants was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The PAW seeds grew and germinated more quickly, demonstrating that the plasma therapy had an effect. The rate of heavy metal uptake by the plants was also shown to be 5x lower in the presence of ZnONP.

Highlights

Soybean (Glycine max) is the second-largest vegetable oil produced in the world, with the USA being the largest producer [1]
The results show the potential for plasma treatment regarding heavy metals and zincoxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) uptake by plants
The seedlings and germination of soybean seeds can be affected by plasma-activated water (PAW) treatment, the combination of voltage and treatment duration requires further studies to determine its optimum output

Summary

Introduction

Soybean (Glycine max) is the second-largest vegetable oil produced in the world, with the USA being the largest producer [1]. It is among the 16 major crops cultivated worldwide, which makes research on soybean cultivation crucial [2]. Various products can be made from the plant, such as soybean oil, soy milk, sprouts, soy nuts, edamame, soy flours, soybean meals, and tofu. It is a good source of protein, fats, and dietary fibers. Research was conducted to understand the uptake of Pb by soybean seeds under different treatment conditions

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