Introduction of a new atmospheric pressure plasma device and application on tomato seeds

Abstract

We designed new atmospheric pressure plasma device, to explore appropriate voltage of plasma treatment that promote traits and yield of tomato, tomato seeds were treated by plasma at 4760 to 6800 V, and traits and yield of tomato were observed. The results showed that the effects of different voltage plasma treatments on seed germination were not the same. The bloom times, the height, the caulis, the extent of the plants and the average weight, length，diameter of each fruit in the seven treatment groups from 4760 to 6800 V were increased distinctly. The tomato yields of seven different plasma voltage treated groups were increased than the untreated (CK). In most indexes of our tests, effects of (5440 ~ 6120 V) plasma voltage treatments were better than of other voltages, the best was 6120 V plasma voltage treatment. So the tomato yield increase and the most the botany properties of the tomato are improved. The discharges were not uniform and the powers were lower in low voltages (4760 ~ 5100V), and the discharge powers were higher in high voltages (6460 ~ 6800V). There was a step unaltered violet blue light from 5440V to 6120V, it was nearly uniform discharges, it maybe due to the energy of the electron and the active air particles in the plasma increasing with atmospheric plasma voltage adding, more electric charges are produced per unit time and cannot be neutralized at once, which can strengthen the reaction between the active air particles and seeds. The active air particles and ultraviolet radiation can penetrate into the capsule of the seeds，accelerate to decompose the inner nutriment of the seeds, reduce relative penetrability of cell velum, improve the activities of the root of the tomato seedling. Test data of fruit yield of the tomato are consistent with the statistical regressive line.

Inactivation of Surface-Borne Microorganisms and Increased Germination of Seed Specimen by Cold Atmospheric Plasma

“…Their result showed a three times increased (maximum 55 %) seed germination upon plasma treatment for 12 to 48 min, compared to 15 % germination of untreated seeds. Zhou et al (2011) treated tomato seeds with a fabricated atmospheric pressure plasma device at 4.7 to 6.8 kV for 6 s and observed stimulatory effects on blooming times, the height, the caulis, the extent of the plants, the average weight, and the length diameter of each fruit. However, the percentage of seed germination was not assessed.…”

“…Food/seed disinfection studies Selcuk et al 2008) and seed germination/seed viability studies (Será et al 2008;Zhou et al 2011;Dubinov et al 2000) were carried out using different plasma sources that create different concentrations of plasma reactive species, charged particles, and photons. Their approach for studying seed decontamination contained artificially inoculated pathogens on different food surfaces, which were exposed to CAP.…”

Increased germination and growth rates of pea and Zucchini seed by FSG plasma

“…Regulation of water and other environmental factors may be critical for improving seed germination and successive growth, and this should be considered in developing technologies for efficient germination and growth [1,2]. Recently, studies show that cold atmospheric plasma systems could promote seed germination and growth [1,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Increment seed germination rate, growth development, and crop yield by plasma treatment have been reported in various crops: spinach [16], wheat [8,13], soybean [9], and radish [17].…”

Características elétricas e eficiência energética de um sistema de descarga de barreira dielétrica

“…No ramo alimentício pode-se destacar o uso do plasma para descontaminação de alimentos (2) . Na agricultura estudos mostram a aplicação de plasma para inativação de fungos e bactérias, assim como o pré-tratamento de sementes para estimular a germinação (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8) . O DBD ocorre quando uma alta tensão pulsada é aplicada entre dois eletrodos metálicos, tendo entre eles uma barreira dielétrica.…”