The Influence of Cold Radiofrequency Plasma on Germination of Seeds

Yekaterina Shapira, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Depart, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
Edward Bormashenko, Chemical Engineering And Biotechnology Depart, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
Elyashiv Drori, Chemical Engineering And Biotechnology Depart, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel

The influence of the cold radiofrequency air plasma treatment on the imbibition and germination of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and pepper (Capsicum annuum) seeds, exerted to conditions appearing in natural seedbeds were investigated. Various conditions of water supply (from non-restricted water supply to water drought stress) to the germinating seeds were studied. Plasma treatment markedly increased the water imbibition in the case of tomato seeds under limited water availability conditions. Cold radiofrequency plasma treatment had no noticeable impact on the germination of tomato and pepper seeds under the conditions of non-restricted water supply. In the case of drought stress for both studied cultivars the cold plasma treatment essentially influenced the germination rate and the kinetics of germination (the median of the Richard curve was changed essentially under conditions of water drought).

In addition, possible effects of the cold radiofrequency air plasma treatment  on plant development and yield of hybrid pepper and tomato plants in a greenhouse were established. No difference was found in non-treated and plasma treated tomato plants and fruits.