Abstract
The impact of cold radiofrequency air plasma on the wetting properties and water imbibition of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) was studied. The influence of plasma on wetting of a cotyledon and seed coat (testa) was elucidated. It was established that cold plasma treatment leads to hydrophilization of the cotyledon and tissues constituting the testa when they are separately exposed to plasma. By contrast, when the entire bean is exposed to plasma treatment, only the external surface of the bean is hydrophilized by the cold plasma. Water imbibition by plasma-treated beans was studied. Plasma treatment markedly accelerates the water absorption. The crucial role of a micropyle in the process of water imbibition was established. It was established that the final percentage of germination was almost the same in the cases of plasma-treated, untreated, and vacuum-pumped samples. However, the speed of germination was markedly higher for the plasma-treated samples. The influence of the vacuum pumping involved in the cold plasma treatment on the germination was also clarified.
Highlights
The interaction of various kinds of radiation with plants has been exposed to intensive research (Teramura, 1983; Cen and Bornman, 1990; Jansen et al, 1998; Friesen et al, 2014, Guajardo-Flores et al, 2014)
Our research demonstrates that the speed of germination may be affected by the cold plasma treatment
When beans are treated with cold plasma, they are necessarily exposed to a vacuum
Summary
The interaction of various kinds of radiation with plants has been exposed to intensive research (Teramura, 1983; Cen and Bornman, 1990; Jansen et al, 1998; Friesen et al, 2014, Guajardo-Flores et al, 2014). The researchers focused on the interaction of UV radiation with plants (Cen and Bornman, 1990; Guajardo-Flores et al, 2014). The first reports in this field appeared only in the last two decades It seems that the first systematic study of the influence exerted by plasma on seeds was carried out by Volin et al (2000) who exposed seeds of radish (Raphanus sativus) and two pea cultivars
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