Compact solar-powered plasma water generator: enhanced germination of aged seed with the corona dielectric barrier discharger
Yiting XIAO1(), Yang TIAN2, Haizheng XIONG3(), Ainong SHI3, Jun ZHU1
. Biological Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA . Program of Material Science and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA . Department of Horticulture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
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.
Fig.1 Schematic of the solar-powered corona dielectric barrier discharge (cDBD) reactor used in this study.
Treatment time (min)
pH
ORP (mV)
NO2– (ppm)
NO3– (ppm)
0
7.37
262
0.048
0.797
5
7.22
269
2.87
3.64
10
7.20
275
4.05
5.19
15
7.18
284
6.45
6.45
Tab.1 Quantification of pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), NO2–, and NO3– in PAW treated with different time at 17 kV
Treatment voltage (kV)
pH
ORP (mV)
NO2– (ppm)
NO3– (ppm)
Untreated
7.37
262
0.048
0.797
17
7.20
275
4.03
5.19
22
6.9
291
7.15
11.1
27
6.86
292
8.65
13.5
Tab.2 Quantification of pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), NO2–, and NO3– in PAW treated with different voltage (10 min)
Fig.2 Germination results for spinach seeds for lines 08-280 (a, b), 08-415 (c, d), and F415 (e, f) on days 3–6. (a, c, e) Time effects at 17 kV for 0, 5, 10, 15 min; (b, d, f) voltage effects with 0, 17, 22, 27 kV for 10 min.
Fig.3 Spinach (08-280) germination and seedling growth after 7 days for control (a) and PAW-17-5 (b).
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