A Review of Microbial Decontamination of Cereals by Non-Thermal Plasma

Self Cite

Fusarium spp. is a well-studied pathogen with the potential to infect cereals and reduce the yield to maximum if left unchecked. For decades, different control treatments have been tested against different Fusarium spp. and for reducing the mycotoxins they produce and are well documented. Some treatments also involved integrated pest management (IPM) strategies against Fusarium spp. control and mycotoxin degradation produced by them. In this review article, we compiled different control strategies against different Fusarium spp. In addition, special focus is given to the non-thermal plasma (NTP) technique used against Fusarium spp. inactivation. In a separate group, we compiled the literature about the use of NTP in the decontamination of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium spp., and highlighted the possible mechanisms of mycotoxin degradation by NTP. In this review, we concluded that although NTP is an effective treatment, it is a nice area and needs further research. The possibility of a prospective novel IPM strategy against Fusarium spp. is also proposed.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Non-Thermal Plasma in Fusarium Inactivation and Mycotoxin Decontamination

Doshi

Šerá

2023

Self Cite

“…Many studies have been devoted to the effects of direct plasma application on germination and other properties of seeds, including wheat; the germination of Penicillium spores may be also affected [ 8 ]. References [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ] are several recent works in this area.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of the Effect of Plasma-Activated Water and Artificially Prepared Plasma-Activated Water on Wheat Grain Properties

Jirešová

Scholtz

Julák

et al. 2022

Self Cite

Recently, much attention has been paid to the use of low-temperature plasmas and plasma-activated water (PAW) in various areas of biological research. In addition to its use in medicine, especially for low-temperature disinfection and sterilization, a number of works using plasma in various fields of agriculture have already appeared. While direct plasma action involves the effects of many highly reactive species with short lifetimes, the use of PAW involves the action of only long-lived particles. A number of articles have shown that the main stable components of PAW are H2O2, O3, HNO2, and HNO3. If so, then it would be faster and much more practical to artificially prepare PAW by directly mixing these chemicals in a given ratio. In this article, we review the literature describing the composition and properties of PAW prepared by various methods. We also draw attention to an otherwise rather neglected fact, that there are no significant differences between the action of PAW and artificially prepared PAW. The effect of PAW on the properties of wheat grains (Triticum aestivum L.) was determined. PAW exposure increased germination, shoot length, and fresh and dry shoot weight. The root length and R/S length, i.e., the ratio between the underground (R) and aboveground (S) length of the wheat seedlings, slightly decreased, while the other parameters changed only irregularly or not at all. Grains artificially inoculated with Escherichia coli were significantly decontaminated after only one hour of exposure to PAW, while Saccharomyces cerevisiae decontamination required soaking for 24 h. The differences between the PAW prepared by plasma treatment and the PAW prepared by artificially mixing the active ingredients, i.e., nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, proved to be inconsistent and statistically insignificant. Therefore, it may be sufficient for further research to focus only on the effects of artificial PAW.

“…Therefore, there is a great interest in finding new, alternative approaches for grain treatment. Cold plasma (CP) treatment techniques seem to offer us potential as a green technology for surface disinfection to prevent fungal growth on seeds and grains [ 10 , 11 ] while avoiding chemical inputs. Besides its antimicrobial activity, CP treatment or treatment with plasma-activated water (PAW) can also stimulate seed germination, enhance growth, and improve the stress tolerance of plants [ 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decontamination and Germination of Buckwheat Grains upon Treatment with Oxygen Plasma Glow and Afterglow

Mravlje

Regvar

Starič

et al. 2022

Buckwheat is an alternative crop known for its many beneficial effects on our health. Fungi are an important cause of plant diseases and food spoilage, often posing a threat to humans and animals. This study reports the effects of low-pressure cold plasma treatment on decontamination and germination of common (CB) and Tartary buckwheat (TB) grains. Both plasma glow and afterglow were applied. The glow treatment was more effective in decontamination: initial contamination was reduced to less than 30% in CB and 10% in TB. Fungal diversity was also affected as only a few genera persisted after the glow treatment; however, it also significantly reduced or even ceased the germination capacity of both buckwheat species. Detailed plasma characterisation by optical spectroscopy revealed extensive etching of outer layers as well as cotyledons. Afterglow treatment resulted in a lower reduction of initial fungal contamination (up to 30% in CB and up to 50% in TB) and had less impact on fungal diversity but did not drastically affect germination: 60–75% of grains still germinated even after few minutes of treatment. The vacuum conditions alone did not affect the fungal population or the germination despite an extensive release of water.