<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In order to reduce the environmental burden of chemicals, various new alternatives to seed protection are being sought. Our aim was to find an environmentally acceptable solution leading to the inactivation of seed-borne phytopathogenic fungi <italic>Fusarium culmorum</italic> on the surface of wheat and barley seeds with a positive effect on their germination. As a low-temperature plasma (LTP) source, a Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge (DCSBD) was used. Plasma generated by DCSBD is non-equilibrium, cold, diffuse, macroscopically homogeneous even in ambient air at atmospheric pressure. Experimental results showed that LTP treatment in the range of 120—300 s significantly inhibits the growth of <italic>F. culmorum</italic> on the surface of the seeds. The efficiency of LTP treatment was compared with traditional seed protection processes using chemical fungicide and also with combined seed pretreatment by plasma and subsequent application of chemical fungicide. No growth of <italic>F. culmorum</italic> was observed after the combination of Vitavax 2000 fungicide application in the dose of 10 % and 60 s of LTP treatment even on the 5th day of incubation. Better wettability of seeds with the chemical fungicide was related to the change on seed surface, which becomes hydrophilic after 10 s of LTP application. Short LTP exposure times did not affect germination and improved the growth parameter of cereal seeds. By combining physical (LTP) and chemical (Vitavax 2000) treatments of cereal seeds, it is possible to effectively reduce the required amount of chemical fungicide and to stimulate germination and early growth seed parameters.</p></abstract>

In order to reduce the environmental burden of chemicals, various new alternatives to seed protection are being sought. Our aim was to find an environmentally acceptable solution leading to the inactivation of seed-borne phytopathogenic fungi Fusarium culmorum on the surface of wheat and barley seeds with a positive effect on their germination. As a low-temperature plasma (LTP) source, a Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge (DCSBD) was used. Plasma generated by DCSBD is non-equilibrium, cold, diffuse, macroscopically homogeneous even in ambient air at atmospheric pressure. Experimental results showed that LTP treatment in the range of 120—300 s significantly inhibits the growth of F. culmorum on the surface of the seeds. The efficiency of LTP treatment was compared with traditional seed protection processes using chemical fungicide and also with combined seed pretreatment by plasma and subsequent application of chemical fungicide. No growth of F. culmorum was observed after the combination of Vitavax 2000 fungicide application in the dose of 10 % and 60 s of LTP treatment even on the 5th day of incubation. Better wettability of seeds with the chemical fungicide was related to the change on seed surface, which becomes hydrophilic after 10 s of LTP application. Short LTP exposure times did not affect germination and improved the growth parameter of cereal seeds. By combining physical (LTP) and chemical (Vitavax 2000) treatments of cereal seeds, it is possible to effectively reduce the required amount of chemical fungicide and to stimulate germination and early growth seed parameters.

Low-temperature plasma applications in chemical fungicide treatment reduction

Department of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics

Acta Chimica Slovaca

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Public License.

{"article-title":"Low-temperature plasma applications in chemical fungicide treatment reduction"}

In order to reduce the environmental burden of chemicals, various new alternatives to seed protection are being sought. Our aim was to find an environmentally...

Low-temperature plasma applications in chemical fungicide treatment reduction

Published Online: Jun 29, 2020

Page range: 26 - 33

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acs-2020-0005

Keywords
Cereal seeds, Chemical fungicide Vitavax 2000, Decontamination, Germination, Low-temperature plasma

© 2020 Lucia Hoppanová et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Public License.

Low-temperature plasma applications in chemical fungicide treatment reduction

Published Online: Jun 29, 2020

Page range: 26 - 33

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acs-2020-0005

KeywordsCereal seeds, Chemical fungicide Vitavax 2000, Decontamination, Germination, Low-temperature plasma

© 2020 Lucia Hoppanová et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Public License.

Keywords
Cereal seeds, Chemical fungicide Vitavax 2000, Decontamination, Germination, Low-temperature plasma