Influence of Plasma Activated Water Generated in a Gliding Arc Discharge Reactor on Germination of Beetroot and Carrot Seeds

Piotr Terebun,Michał Kwiatkowski,Karol Hensel,Marek Kopacki,Joanna Pawłat

doi:10.3390/app11136164

Abstract

One of the new methods of protecting and supporting plant growth is the use of low-temperature plasma. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of using plasma activated water produced in an atmospheric pressure gliding arc reactor for germination of beetroot (Beta vulgaris) and carrot (Daucus carota) seeds. The study was carried out for different plasma treatment times of water (5, 10 and 20 min) and with fixed geometry and power of the discharge system, using air as the working gas. The effect on germination was evaluated based on the fraction of germinated seeds and their length at 7 and 14 days after treatment. Analysis of fungi present on the seed surface and imaging of the seed surface using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were auxiliary methods to evaluate the type of treatment effect. In the case of beetroot, a positive effect on the number and length of germinated seeds was observed, which increased with increasing treatment time. This effect can be attributed, among other things, to the surface changes observed on microscopic photographs. In the case of carrot seeds, a more significant positive effect on germination was observed. Fungal decontamination effect was relatively weaker than with the use of the chemical method with sodium hypochlorite.

Highlights

One of the main tasks of plant protection is the implementation of innovative and safe methods to reduce the occurrence of agrophages in crops [1,2]
The difference in germination energy was evident for plasma activated water (PAW) after 5 min of plasma treatment, for which the fraction of germinated seeds increased by 16%, performing better than sodium hypochlorite treatment
Similar GEN results were obtained for a time of 10 min plasma treatment of water; this treatment time allowed for an increase in GC, as opposed to PAW5’, which had a shorter treatment time that accelerated initial growth followed by no germination of the remaining seeds

Summary

Introduction

One of the main tasks of plant protection is the implementation of innovative and safe methods to reduce the occurrence of agrophages in crops [1,2]. This is related to the implementation of the concept of sustainable agriculture, promoting the production of high quality food in a socially responsible manner, rational use of natural resources and a reduction in the use of chemical plant protection products [3–6]. Plasma can be used to decontaminate seed and seedling material [14–22] and have positive effects on physiological processes in plants and plant seedlings [23–32]. Many researchers confirm the positive effect of plasma be used to decontaminate seed and seedling material [14–22] and have positive effects on

Objectives

Results

Conclusion