Impact of Cold Plasma Treatment of Sweet Basil Seeds on the Growth and Quality of Basil Plants in a Lab-Scale Hydroponic System

Abstract

The effect of cold plasma treatment of basil seeds on the hydroponic growth of sweet basil plants was investigated. Basil seeds were exposed to air-based cold plasma for 30 s using a Plasmajet. Plasma-treated and untreated seeds were germinated into small seedlings under controlled conditions for 14 days. The seedlings were then transferred to controlled environment canopies and grown hydroponically for 21 days. Harvested basil plants were analyzed for their dry tissue mass, growth parameters (plant height, number of branches and nodes, root length, and leaf index), quality (color and texture), and microbiology (total plate count). The plasma treatment of seeds resulted in higher fresh and dry weights, plant height, leaf index, leaf length, and leaf width for basil plants compared to plants grown from untreated seeds. The moisture content, number of branches and nodes, root length, color, and texture of basil leaves were not significantly affected by the plasma treatment of seeds. The results suggest that the plasma treatment of the basil seeds could be effective for improving the plant growth and yield.