Effects of plasma-activated water treatment on seed germination and growth of mung bean sprouts

Abstract

The present work aimed to investigate the effect of plasma-activated water (PAW) on seed germination and seedling growth of mung bean sprouts. Distilled water was exposed to non-thermal plasma for 15, 30, 60, and 90 s to prepare PAW, which was defined as PAW15, PAW30, PAW60, and PAW90, respectively. The germination rate, growth characteristics, total phenolic and flavonoid contents were all maximized when mung bean seeds were treated by PAW15, then followed by a decline over the prolonged plasma activation time (30-90 s). PAW15 caused no remarkably changes in the antioxidant capacity of sprouts as compared to DW (p > 0.05). However, the antioxidant activity of sprouts prepared with PAW30, PAW60, and PAW90 were decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared with that of sprouts soaked in distilled water. In summary, PAW may be used to improve the production of sprouts, but the process parameters should be optimized for each application.

Plant growth promotion effect of plasma activated water on Lactuca sativa L. cultivated in two different volumes of substrate

“…8.9 mm vs. 6.6 mm at 8 DAS) were obtained at a content of 1.5 mg L −1 NO 3 − (PAW I), which for the subsequent process of growth and development of the plant is a positive aspect, determining a higher force and implicitly increased production. Significant differences were also observed between PAW II treatment and control starting with 7 DAS, but the increases were less important compared to PAW I. www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Similar results were recorded by Fan et al 47 in a study regarding mung bean, where the positive effects on the seedlings growth decreased along with the increased discharge time. The lower positive effects of PAW II on the radicle and hypocotyls growth of lettuce seedlings can be due to the higher concentrations of reactive species (3.0 mg L −1 NO 3 − and 1.65 mg L −1 H 2 O 2 ) that might have had a detrimental effect, slowing the growth processes.…”

“…Similar results were recorded by Fan et al . 47 in a study regarding mung bean, where the positive effects on the seedlings growth decreased along with the increased discharge time. The lower positive effects of PAW II on the radicle and hypocotyls growth of lettuce seedlings can be due to the higher concentrations of reactive species (3.0 mg L −1 NO 3 − and 1.65 mg L −1 H 2 O 2 ) that might have had a detrimental effect, slowing the growth processes.…”

“…It is well known that at low concentrations, nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen (ROS) have positive effects on the growth and development of plants. However, at high concentrations, reactive species can become toxic, inhibiting or slowing different developmental processes 47 . Another reason which could have contributed to the lesser increase of the lettuce seedlings treated with PAW II might be the pH of the treatment (5.88) which is at the inferior limit of the optimal pH needed for the growth of lettuce 45 .…”

The effect of water activated by nonthermal air plasma on the growth of farm plants: Case of maize and barley

“…They concluded that the PAW may effectively improve the germination, the early development of wheat seedlings, but more importantly that the positive stimulation depends on the concentration of RONS in the PAW. In the same way, Fan et al [ 42 ] investigated the effect of PAW on mung bean sprouts by applying the distilled water exposed to nonthermal plasma for 15, 30, 60, and 90 s. They evaluated the PAW effect by measuring parameters, such as the germination rate, growth characteristics, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant enzyme activity, and they deduced that the PAW could stimulate the mung seed germination and growth. In general, the effect depended on the chemical composition of the different PAW.…”

Effects of Non-Thermal Plasma Treatment on Seed Germination and Early Growth of Leguminous Plants—A Review

“…Surface modification was also reported after treatment by PAW. Fan et al [ 56 ] reported a water absorption rate increase from 65% for control samples to 75% for treated mung beans. Sajib et al [ 57 ] reported a similar lipid or wax coat alteration of black gram due to the interactions of NO 2 − and H 2 O 2 with wax.…”