Amelioration of Photosynthesis and Quality of Wheat under Non-thermal Radio Frequency Plasma Treatment

Abstract

Plasma treatment is recognized as a suitable technology to improve germination efficiency of numerous seeds. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate whether cold air plasma can change the quality and quantity of wheat yield. Effects of cold plasma treatment on wheat (Pishgam variety) yield were studied by a randomized complete block design experiment at the Faculty of Agriculture of Tarbiat Modarres University, Iran, during 2015–17. Seeds were pre-treated with 80 W of cold plasma at four levels of time, 60, 120, 180 and 240 seconds. Plasma effects on yield and quality of wheat were determined by measuring plant photosynthesis, grain yield, biological yield, 1000-grain weight, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, anthocyanin, protein and starch content. Results showed that plasma treatments had positive effects on wheat characteristics, and treatment of 180 s had the highest stimulatory effect. In both years, cold plasma increased grain yield at 180 s, but decreased it at 240 s compared with control. The rate of plant photosynthesis, grain yield, 1000-grain weight, carotenoid and anthocyanin were enhanced at 180 s. The starch content and grain protein were enhanced at 120 s cold plasma application compared with control.

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

“…Only a slight decrease in P N was observed for variant T-2 under higher light intensities (830-1830 µmol PAR m −2 s −1 ). Differences between barley and maize in sensitivity to plasma treatment were documented, for example, in Švubová et al [61] Similar to results of this study, Saberi et al [62] documented disproportionality in photosynthetic pigment concentration to P N , which could represent different involvement of present pigments in light harvesting complexes.…”

Plasma agriculture: Review from the perspective of the plant and its ecosystem

“…"Plasma Agriculture" started about two decades ago with the use of low-pressure plasma systems for the treatment of seeds. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Although the focus of this review is atmospheric pressure discharges, the advantage of lowpressure plasma treatment is the ability of treating larger volumes using a plasma discharge that is homogeneously distributed. Low-pressure plasmas require a more complicated and expensive setup, and not all substrates can withstand the low-pressure conditions without damage.…”

Effect of Oxygen Plasma on Sprout and Root Growth, Surface Morphology and Yield of Garlic

“…Further, the planting of plasma treated seeds can result in improved yield of important agricultural crops. An increase in wheat yield was achieved by the use of low-pressure helium plasma [14], low pressure air plasma [15], and medium pressure air and air/oxygen plasma [16], whereas tomato yield could be improved by atmospheric pressure air plasma, either an arc discharge [17] or a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) [18]. A low pressure, helium plasma improved peanut yield [19], while the seed yield of Arabidopsis thailana was improved by an atmospheric pressure air DBD [20].…”