Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment for microbial disinfection and enhanced germination in paddy seeds
Monami Mukherjee, Soumya Prakash Dutta, Umapathi Balaji, Sony Pandey, Kamatchi Jothiramalingam Sankaran, Devraj Lenka
Abstract
• Seed dormancy hinders germination despite optimal conditions, affecting crop yield. • APNTP is a sustainable, scalable alternative to conventional seed treatment methods. • Plasma treatment improved disinfection and germination of paddy seeds. • Exposure at 15–19 kV for 0.5–10 min resulted in complete disinfection & better vigour. This study investigates the use of atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma (APNTP) as an innovative approach to address challenges in seed disinfection and germination enhancement. Seed dormancy often leads to germination failure despite optimal moisture and temperature conditions. Conventional chemical, biological, and mechanical techniques for seed disinfection and germination enhancement are often costly, unsustainable, ineffective, or lacking industrial scalability. Atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma (APNTP) offers a promising alternative for improving seed quality and crop yield but faces challenges in large-scale applications. Cold plasma technology is increasingly recognized for pathogen decontamination in agriculture. This study reports a novel APNTP treatment method to disinfect and enhance the germination of Khandagiri paddy seeds, a widely cultivated variety in eastern India. Disinfection and germination metrics were correlated with the treatment parameters. A custom-designed plasma discharge device was developed to expose seeds to plasma at 15 kV and 19 kV for durations of 0.5 to 10 min. Complete disinfection was achieved with 10-minute exposure, while significant reductions in colony-forming units (CFUs) were observed at 1 and 5 min. Plasma treatment also enhanced wettability, leading to improved water uptake and seed vigour. Treated seeds exhibited superior growth metrics compared to untreated controls.