Effect of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Cold Plasma on Pea Seed Growth

J Agric Food Chem. 2019 Oct 2;67(39):10813-10822. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b03099. Epub 2019 Sep 19.

Abstract

Traditional seed pretreatment methods cause secondary pollution for the application of various chemicals. This study investigated the effect of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) cold plasma on seedling growth. Effects of plasma-activated tap water (PATW) and plasma-activated seeds (PAS) were compared for germination rates, seedling height, dry weight, and chlorophyll content. Results show that compared with controls these growth parameters were all increased by more than 50%. The yields and contributions of hydrogen peroxide, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium were quantified. Hydrogen peroxide and nitrate have an important role in seedling growth. By etching, the seed epidermis free radicals can reduce the apparent contact angle and increase the water absorption of the seeds. In addition to the low cost of PATW and PAS compared with commercial fertilizers, DBD does not involve any chemical addition. Thus, both PATW and PAS can be an alternative for improvement of agricultural production.

Keywords: DBD plasma; improvement mechanism; plasma-activated seeds (PAS); plasma-activated tap water (PATW); seedling growth.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Ammonium Compounds / metabolism
  • Chlorophyll / metabolism
  • Crop Production / instrumentation
  • Crop Production / methods*
  • Germination / drug effects
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
  • Nitrates / metabolism
  • Pisum sativum / chemistry
  • Pisum sativum / drug effects*
  • Pisum sativum / growth & development
  • Pisum sativum / metabolism
  • Plasma Gases / chemistry
  • Plasma Gases / pharmacology*
  • Seedlings / drug effects
  • Seedlings / growth & development
  • Seedlings / metabolism
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Seeds / drug effects
  • Seeds / growth & development*
  • Seeds / metabolism
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Ammonium Compounds
  • Nitrates
  • Plasma Gases
  • Water
  • Chlorophyll
  • Hydrogen Peroxide