Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-2024
Keywords
Non-thermal plasma; plant growth; reactor design; seed germination
Abstract
Seed aging adversely affects agricultural productivity by reducing germination rates and seedling vigor, leading to significant costs for seed banks and companies due to the need for frequent seed renewals. This study demonstrated the use of plasma-activated water (PAW), generated by a solar-powered corona dielectric barrier discharger, to enhance germination rates of spinach seeds that had been stored at 4 °C for 23 years. Treating seeds with PAW at 17 kV for 15 min improved germination (by 135%) and seedling growth compared to untreated seeds. Through detailed analysis, beneficial PAW properties for seed development were identified, and a molecular mechanism for this rejuvenation is proposed. The solar-powered microreactor used in this study is considered to represent a significant advancement in seed treatment technology, offering a sustainable solution to meet growing food demands while addressing environmental and resource sustainability challenges.
Citation
Xiao, Y., Tian, Y., Xiong, H., Shi, A., & Zhu, J. (2024). Compact Solar-powered Plasma Water Generator: Enhanced Germination of Aged Seed with the Corona Dielectric Barrier Discharger. Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering, 11 (4), 642-651. https://doi.org/10.15302/J-FASE-2024573
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Included in
Agriculture Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons
