Influence of a Helium–Nitrogen RF Plasma Jet on Onion Seed Germination

Agnieszka Starek-Wójcicka,Joanna Pawlat,Michał Kwiatkowski,Piotr Terebun,Piotr Kiczorowski,Agnieszka Sagan

doi:10.3390/app10248973

Agnieszka Starek-Wójcicka, Joanna Pawlat + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/app10248973

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Abstract

This paper presents an experiment using a radio frequency atmospheric pressure plasma jet to generate cold plasma for pre-sowing stimulation of Wolska onion seeds. Impact of the He + N2 afterglow plasma on germination was investigated. Eight groups of seeds characterized by different exposure times (2, 5, 10, 15, 60, 120, 240, and 480 s) and distance from the electrodes (20 mm and 50 mm) were used. Pre-sowing plasma stimulation of the seeds improved the germination capacity and germination energy for all tested groups, relative to control. The impact of radio frequency plasma on the onion seed germination parameters was statistically significant. The highest germination parameters were obtained for seeds stimulated for 240 s at a distance of 50 mm. No significant differences in physical and morphological properties of onion seeds were found.

Highlights

Germination comprises a number of processes occurring inside the seed and leading to the activation of the embryo
Knowledge of the physical and morphological properties of seeds helps to adapt the cultivation, harvesting, and processing technologies to benefit from the yielding potential of plants and to minimize losses associated with seed harvesting, storage, and processing
With the growth of environmental awareness, special emphasis is placed on limiting the role of pesticides, fertilizers, and other agents required for plant growth, which can accumulate in the soil

Summary

Introduction

Germination comprises a number of processes occurring inside the seed and leading to the activation of the embryo. Mature seeds germinate at a specific rate and energy in favorable environmental conditions, i.e., appropriate temperature, access to oxygen and water, and light radiation on the soil surface. Sowing seeds with weaker germinability produces many unused spaces in the ground, uneven seedling emergence, and uneven distribution of plants on the soil surface. Already in the initial period, emerging plants differ significantly in the level of growth and development, which is one of the basic causes of the stronger competition between plants and deterioration of the crop structure. The global desire to limit the excessive use of chemical compounds in plant production, and the growing acreage of organic or integrated plant cultivation, the agricultural sector seeks environmentally friendly technologies [3,4,5,6] for improving germination

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