Helium Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Effects on Two Cultivars of Triticum aestivum L.

Abstract

The use of cold plasma in the treatment of seeds before sowing presents a promising technique for sustainable agriculture. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of cold plasma treatment on the morphology of wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum L. ‘Dacic’ and ‘Otilia’), their germination, biochemical composition, and the nutritional quality of wheat grass. Wheat seeds were morphologically and elementally characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-ray computer tomography (CT), and particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE). Helium was used as a working gas for plasma generation and the analysis of the species produced showed the presence of NOγ, OH, N2 and N2+ and O. Evaluation of germination and plant growth for 10 days (wheat grass stage) highlighted a specific trend for each cultivar. The biochemical analysis of wheat grass highlighted an increase in the chlorophyll content in the plasma-treated variants, an increase in the flavonoid and polyphenol content in ‘Dacic’-treated variant, while the soluble protein content, antioxidant activity, and color were not affected. The analysis of the nutritional quality of wheat grass by the FT-NIR analytical technique highlighted an increase in the ash content in the plasma-treated wheat cultivars, while the humidity, proteins, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and energy values were not affected.

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Exposure of Polylactic Acid Surfaces for Better Adhesion: Plasma Parameters towards Polymer Properties

“…Typical waveforms of voltage and current, for plasma running in both helium (left graph) and argon (right graph), are shown in Figure 2 , which can be found below. These voltage–current representations are similar to those obtained in previous experiments, conducted in appropriate conditions [ 18 , 20 ].…”

“…The discharge power was calculated via Lissajous figures formed with the charges across the capacitor and the applied voltage across the discharge. A similar arrangement was previously used by Huzum, Nastuta, and Burducea for the treatment of grape must, for plasma parameter optimization, and for wheat seed treatment [ 18 , 19 , 20 ], attaining an appropriate set of plasma settings for sample exposure under investigation.…”

Effects of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet on 3D-Printed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

“…The optical fiber, which was 1 m long and 400 µm in diameter, was placed side-on 5 mm away from the plasma effluent and 5 mm away from the discharge tube (nozzle) in order to record the 200 to 900 nm plasma emission spectra. The experimental setup depicted in Figure 1 has been thoroughly documented in previous literature [19,[41][42][43]. Moreover, Huzum et al [41], Burducea et al [43], and Nastuta et al [19,42] utilized a comparable setup for various purposes such as grape must treatment, wheat seed treatment, and plasma parameter optimization to establish proper plasma settings for the exposure of various surfaces.…”

“…The experimental setup depicted in Figure 1 has been thoroughly documented in previous literature [19,[41][42][43]. Moreover, Huzum et al [41], Burducea et al [43], and Nastuta et al [19,42] utilized a comparable setup for various purposes such as grape must treatment, wheat seed treatment, and plasma parameter optimization to establish proper plasma settings for the exposure of various surfaces.…”

Treatment of seeds by cold ambient air plasma: combining impedance measurements with water sorption modeling to understand the impact of seed hydration

“…This observation warrants caution as one might deduce that plasma does not modify the bulk properties of seeds, only affecting the seeds outer layers (coating and pericarp). Overall, this idea is sustained by synchrotron radiation x-ray tomographic microscopy that demonstrates no significant difference between seeds untreated and treated by plasma, whether for broccoli or wheat [41,42]. However, a fine analysis achieved on Arabidopsis demonstrates that plasma can actually enlarge the intercellular spaces, driving to a slight increase in porosity [43].…”