Germination Energy, Germination Capacity and Microflora of Allium cepa L. Seeds after RF Plasma Conditioning

Joanna Pawłat (), Agnieszka Starek-Wójcicka (), Marek Kopacki (), Piotr Terebun, Michał Kwiatkowski, Agnieszka Sujak, Simone Pascuzzi, Francesco Santoro and Dariusz Andrejko
Additional contact information
Joanna Pawłat: Institiute of Electrical Engineering and Electrotechnologies, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38a, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Agnieszka Starek-Wójcicka: Department of Biological Bases of Food and Feed Technologies, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Głęboka 28, 20-612 Lublin, Poland
Marek Kopacki: Department of Plant Protection, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Leszczynskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin, Poland
Piotr Terebun: Institiute of Electrical Engineering and Electrotechnologies, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38a, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Michał Kwiatkowski: Institiute of Electrical Engineering and Electrotechnologies, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38a, 20-618 Lublin, Poland
Agnieszka Sujak: Department of Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of Life Sciences in Poznan, ul. Wojska Polskiego 28, 60-637 Poznań, Poland
Simone Pascuzzi: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola 11 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
Francesco Santoro: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola 11 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy
Dariusz Andrejko: Department of Biological Bases of Food and Feed Technologies, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Głęboka 28, 20-612 Lublin, Poland

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-15

Abstract: This paper presents the results of an experiment on the effect of the cold plasma (He+O 2 or He+Air) pre-sowing stimulation of seeds of the Wolska cultivar of onion on the process of their germination. Four groups of seeds characterized by different exposure times (60, 120, 240 and 480 s) were used. Untreated seeds were used as a control. The distance between the electrode and the tested material was 50 mm. Pre-sowing plasma stimulation improved germination parameters such as germination capacity and germination energy for all the tested groups relative to the control. The highest fractions of germinated seeds were observed for an exposure time of 120 s. Analysis of the data showed a statistically significant impact of RF plasma on the seed germination parameters of the onion. SEM analysis showed that the interaction with plasma produced tension in the cells, leading to a change in their shape. No visible damage to the onion seed cells was observed, apart from the effect of depletion of the upper wax layer. The best influence on pathogenic fungi was when the group of seeds underwent 240 and 480 s of exposure to plasma fumigation, especially using the He+Air RF plasma jet.

Keywords: atmospheric-pressure plasma; RF plasma jet reactor; Wolska onion; seed germination; antifungal activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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