Atmospheric pressure gliding arc discharge plasma treatments for improving germination, growth and yield of wheat

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds were treated with atmospheric pressure gliding arc discharge plasmas to investigate the effects on water absorption, seed germination rate, seedling growth and yield in wheat. The surface architectures and functionalities of the seeds were found to modify due to plasma treatments. 6 min treatment was provided 95%-100% germination rate. For the treatment duration of 3 and 9 min the growth activity, dry matter accumulation, leaves chlorophyll contents, longest spikes, number of spikes/spikelet and total soluble protein content in shoots were improved. The grain yield of wheat was increased ∼20% by 6 min treatment with H 2 O/O 2 plasma with respect to control.

Effects of Nonthermal Plasma on Wheat Grains and Products

“…However, for high NTP doses, i.e., over optimal treatment time (in this case, 30 min), all the growing properties decreased under untreated. Also in [48], the grains treated for 3 and 6 minutes had the highest germination rate 95-100%. However, the further increments of NTP treatment time caused the decrease of the germination rate.…”

“…Concerning with germination, Gidea et al [61] reported also the increase of average length of roots and sprouts and vigor index, but after exposure times over 30 min, all measured properties decreased close to or under untreated ones. In the experiments of Roy et al [48], plant lengths from grains exposed for 3 and 6 min increased to 23 cm and 22 cm, respectively, while the control was 21 cm at the same incubation period. After 20 days of sowing, the longest plant height was 23 cm for the exposed seed, while the control was 19 cm.…”

“…e water absorption was higher in the case of the treated grains as compared with the control samples, too. Likewise, Roy et al [48] recognized that the surfaces of the treated wheat grains become rough with respect to the control. e changes of surface erosion and roughness may be associated with the enhanced water permeability into the grains.…”

“…However, the thousand-grain weight and grain protein content increased only by 0.93 g, i.e., by 1%. On the other side, Roy et al [48] suggested that, beside the increase of germination potential, vigor index, and noteworthy improvement in photosynthetic pigment, the significant increase in the total number of grains per spike, thousand-grain weight, and yield of wheat by 5% also occurred. Moreover, the same authors [46] reported a yield increase by ∼20%.…”

Evaluation of Oxidative Species in Gaseous and Liquid Phase Generated by Mini-Gliding Arc Discharge

“…Gliding sparks produced by self-stimulated acoustic waves allow for chemical conversion rate as high as 50%, having much better performance in comparison with the conventional pulsed plasmas [22]. Several authors have also successfully used GA reactors to stimulate the growth of seeds of plants, such as wheat, Thuringian Mallow or hemp [23][24][25].…”