Plasma Treatment Of Seeds Research Articles

Positive Effect Induced by Plasma Treatment of Seeds on the Agricultural Performance of Sunflower

The need for efficient technologies to enhance productivity in agriculture strongly motivates research on plasma treatment of seeds and plants. In this study, the influence of plasma treatment on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seeds was evidenced throughout the entire life span of the plants. The seeds were packed in a DBD reactor operated in air and treated in plasma for 10 min, using a sinusoidal voltage of 16 kV amplitude at 50 Hz frequency. Early growth observation of plants under laboratory conditions showed that, after a slower start, the plasma-treated seeds developed faster and produced taller seedlings with greater total mass as compared to the control samples. Results obtained from mature plants cultivated in the field revealed a positive effect of plasma exposure with respect to capitulum size, number of seeds per capitulum and mass per thousand seeds, resulting in a remarkable increase in crop yield. The plasma effect lasted for at least two weeks of seed storage; however, it was considerably affected by the sowing period.

Plasma Treatment and Seed Quality Advancement: A Review

Plasma also called as ‘fourth state of matter’ encompasses ionized gas, atoms, free molecules, radicals and free electrons. Considering its discovery in late 19th century plasma is extensively used as low pressure or high pressure plasmas in many applications commercially such as microelectronic technology, textile industry, organic waste management etc. When a gas is passed through an electric field in a plasma chamber, three types of collisions are known to take place in it particularly, excitation, ionization and deposition that provide plasma its characteristic glow, ion-electron pair, reactive species respectively. Plasma treatment of different object can change their chemical and physical properties. In Seed Science and Research, many seed quality enhancement techniques are used to improve seed quality in crop plants such as, seed priming, fortification, solid matrix priming, chemical treatment, hardening etc. Plasma treatment of seeds is a unique tool that utilizes an ionized gas to modify the physical and chemical properties seed viz., wettability, porosity, water absorption, activity of antioxidant enzymes. It can also decontaminate the seed surface off micro flora and convert hydrophobic seeds to hydrophilic. It also enhances soluble sugar content, protein content and causes a reduction in lipid peroxidation. Thus plasma treatment in turn improves seed germination rate, seedling characteristics, seed physical quality and seed health.

Effect of corona discharge plasma jet treatment on decontamination and sprouting of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) seeds

Sprout-related outbreaks of foodborne illnesses are increasingly becoming a food safety concern. Different pathogenic microorganisms that originate from sprout seeds are known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of such outbreaks. Therefore, in order to decontaminate and also to enhance the germination of seeds, the applications of non-thermal plasma based techniques are increasingly being investigated in the field of agricultural science as an alternative to conventional pre-germination treatments. This work was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of corona discharge plasma jet (CDPJ) for microbial decontamination of rapeseed seeds, and also studied the plasma treatment effect on the seed germination and physicochemical properties of sprouts (grown from the plasma-treated seeds). Aerobic bacteria, molds and yeast, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. were detected as contaminants in the seeds. All the detected microorganisms were reduced in the range of 1.2–2.2 log CFU/g upon the CDPJ treatment for 3 min. The inactivation patterns are better explained using pseudo-first-order kinetics. The plasma treatment of seeds up to 2 min showed positive effects on their germination rate and seedling growth. Physicochemical and sensory characteristics of rape sprouts were unaffected due to the CDPJ treatment of their respective seeds. Therefore, the CDPJ treatment of rapeseed seeds has not only reduced the seed microbial load, but also contributed to the enhancement of their germination rate and seedling growth, without adversely affecting the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of their corresponding sprouts.

Effect of corona discharge plasma jet on surface-borne microorganisms and sprouting of broccoli seeds.

Different pathogenic microorganisms have been reported to cause sprouts-associated outbreaks. In order to sterilise and enhance the germination of seeds, non-thermal plasma has been increasingly investigated in the field of agricultural science as an alternative to the traditional pre-sowing seed treatments. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of corona discharge plasma jet (CDPJ) on disinfection of the natural bio-contaminants of broccoli seed and also studied the plasma effect on sprout seed germination rate and physico-chemical properties of sprouts. Aerobic bacteria, moulds and yeasts, B. cereus, E. coli, Salmonella spp. were detected on the broccoli seed surface. After 0-3 min treatment using CDPJ, the detected microorganisms were reduced in the range of 1.2-2.3 log units. Inactivation patterns were better explained using pseudo-first-order kinetics. The plasma treatment of seeds up to 2 min exhibited a positive effect on germination rate, seedling growth. The physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of sprouts were unaffected due to the CDPJ treatment of their respective seeds. Corona discharge plasma jet can potentially be used for microbial decontamination of broccoli seeds. In addition, the plasma treatment of broccoli sprout seeds has enabled a significant enhancement in their germination rate and seedling growth without compromising physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of their corresponding sprouts. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Non-Thermal Plasma Treatment of Agricultural Seeds for Stimulation of Germination, Removal of Surface Contamination and Other Benefits: A Review

The presence of pathogens and other stresses at germination and seedling stages affect the successful establishment of crops. The use of non-thermal plasma is a new approach to reduce such stresses. Plasma can interact with seeds and change their surface characteristics by etching, introducing functional groups and coating with exotic materials. Emerging evidence indicate that plasma treatment of seeds can enhance germination and seedling growth in crops by removal of microbial layers, changes in water uptake and other changes. Here, we review the status of research and show the potential role that plasma technology can play in addressing the challenges in food production. Major progress is possible by plasma treatments at or near atmospheric pressure where batch processing of large seed samples is possible.