Eco-friendly approach to improve traits of winter wheat by combining cold plasma treatments and carbonization of subtropical biomass waste

Abstract

This study aims to improve the quality and quantity of winter wheat by using the potential of combining the use of cold plasma and waste biorefinery products for improving wheat yield. Plasma was applied by a radio frequency (RF) plasma reactor operated with air for 180 s and 50 W. The waste biorefinery products, including pyroligneous acid, biochar, and azolla compost, were used as plant nutrition. The effects of cold plasma treatment and waste biorefinery products were determined by measuring plant photosynthesis, grain yield, and content of chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanin, protein, and starch. The experiment was conducted during the cropping seasons 2016−18 in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The combination of cold plasma and pyroligneous acid increased the grain yield up to 40.0%. The photosynthesis rate was improved up to 39.3%, and total chlorophyll content up to 48.3% in both years. Seed plasma treatment combined with biochar application increased the starch content by 36.8%. Adding azolla compost increased the protein content by 35.4%. Using seed plasma treatment with biochar increased the microbial biomass carbon by 16.0%. The application of plasma and azolla compost increased the microbial biomass nitrogen by 29.0%.

Seed priming with corona discharge plasma modified growth performance, improved metabolism, and elicited production of tropane alkaloids in Datura inoxia seedlings; plasma technology for application in plant in‐vitro cultures

“…It is believed that protein concentration is an important indicator of the metabolism status. In line with our findings, employing non‐thermal plasma was accompanied by an increase in photosynthesis efficiency, [ 23–25 ] proline, [ 26 ] and protein. [ 27 ] Besides, the plasma‐associated augmentation in the concentration of tropane alkaloids and phenols (phenylpropanoid‐derivatives), as well as upregulation in the PAL activity refer to the high efficacy of plasma to act as an elicitor toward inducing secondary metabolism and defense system.…”

Metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of cold plasma promoting biosynthesis of active substances in broccoli sprouts

“…Plasma provides a comprehensive environment for optical, electrical, magnetic and active particles 12 . It is widely used in botany, and plasma technology can reduce crop seed pollution, improve the storage quality of fruits and vegetables, promote seed germination, improve seed vigour, and increase crop yields 13–17 . Chou et al 18 suggested that plasma treatment can promote the germination rate of plant seeds and seedling growth.…”

“…12 It is widely used in botany, and plasma technology can reduce crop seed pollution, improve the storage quality of fruits and vegetables, promote seed germination, improve seed vigour, and increase crop yields. [13][14][15][16][17] Chou et al 18 suggested that plasma treatment can promote the germination rate of plant seeds and seedling growth. It has been reported to have the potential to improve the biomass and edible quality of soybean sprouts.…”