Inactivation effects of plasma-activated water on Fusarium graminearum

Abstract

The continuous usage of fungicides poses a potential threat to the environment, ranging from mere irritation to being very toxic to human beings and organisms. Plasma-activated water (PAW) has recently gained much interest as a promising candidate to inactivate fungi. However, the inactivation mechanisms of PAW are still not well understood. In this study, the effect of PAW on the viability and the cellular responses of Fusarium graminearum in PAW inactivation were investigated. The results showed that microbial activity of spores was significantly inhibited by PAW treatment "(P<0.05)" . The symptoms caused by F. graminearum were significantly reduced on the spikelets. Our data indicated that PAW could induce cell wall sculpturing, membrane permeability changes, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Differential gene expression analysis also confirmed that the cell membrane, the cell wall and the mitochondria were the organelles most affected by PAW. The results from this study facilitate the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the responses of F. graminearum to PAW and the development of PAW as a potential fungicidal agent or an effective supplement to fungicides.

Biocidal Activity of Low Temperature Plasma to Xylella Fastidiosa

“…Two areas of research are being pursued: one involves direct decontamination by PAW, the other involves activation of self-defence in the plant. It has been found that PAW reduces surface yeast 54 , inhibits mycelial growth of Fusarium graminearum 55 , and protects tomato plants from leaf spot disease caused by Xanthomonas vesicatoria 56 . Irrigation of tomato seedlings with PAW resulted in better growth morphology, oxidation, and expression of defence genes 12,57 .…”