From seed to sprout: Unveiling the potential of non-thermal plasma for optimizing cucumber growth
Background and aims: Numerous strategies for enhancing seed germination and growth have been employed over the decades. Despite these advancements, there continues to be a demand for more effective techniques, driven by the growing global population. Recently, various forms of non-thermal atmospheri...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023086681 |
| _version_ | 1797429864040497152 |
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| author | Rajesh Prakash Guragain Hom Bahadur Baniya Deepesh Prakash Guragain Suman Prakash Pradhan Deepak Prasad Subedi |
| author_facet | Rajesh Prakash Guragain Hom Bahadur Baniya Deepesh Prakash Guragain Suman Prakash Pradhan Deepak Prasad Subedi |
| author_sort | Rajesh Prakash Guragain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and aims: Numerous strategies for enhancing seed germination and growth have been employed over the decades. Despite these advancements, there continues to be a demand for more effective techniques, driven by the growing global population. Recently, various forms of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma have garnered attention as environmentally friendly, safe, and cost-effective methods to enhance the agricultural and food sectors. This study explores the remarkable impact of non-thermal plasma (NTP) treatment on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seed germination. Methods: A cost-effective, custom-designed power supply operating at line frequency was used for treating seeds, with exposure times ranging from 1 to 7 min. Various germination parameters, including water contact angle measurements, mass loss, water imbibition rate, and seedling length, were evaluated to assess the impact of plasma treatment on seed germination. Results: Cucumber seeds exposed to NTP treatment for 3 min and 5 min durations showed significant germination improvements, notably a 57.9 ± 4.25 % higher final germination percentage, 14.5 ± 3.75 % reduced mean germination time, and a remarkable 90.6 ± 4.64 % increase in germination index compared to the control. These results suggest that NTP treatment enhanced seed coat permeability, triggered essential biochemical processes, and expedited water absorption and nutrient assimilation, ultimately fostering faster and more synchronized germination. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the potential of NTP as an innovative approach to improving seed germination in agricultural practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:19:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c2d70e684754b7cbd09787a756aa473 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:19:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c2d70e684754b7cbd09787a756aa4732023-12-02T07:02:25ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-11-01911e21460From seed to sprout: Unveiling the potential of non-thermal plasma for optimizing cucumber growthRajesh Prakash Guragain0Hom Bahadur Baniya1Deepesh Prakash Guragain2Suman Prakash Pradhan3Deepak Prasad Subedi4Department of Physics, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal; Corresponding author.Department of Physics, Amrit Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal; Corresponding author.Department of Electronics and Communication, Nepal Engineering College, Pokhara University, Changunarayan, Bhaktapur, NepalDepartment of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavre, NepalDepartment of Physics, School of Science, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal; Corresponding author.Background and aims: Numerous strategies for enhancing seed germination and growth have been employed over the decades. Despite these advancements, there continues to be a demand for more effective techniques, driven by the growing global population. Recently, various forms of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma have garnered attention as environmentally friendly, safe, and cost-effective methods to enhance the agricultural and food sectors. This study explores the remarkable impact of non-thermal plasma (NTP) treatment on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seed germination. Methods: A cost-effective, custom-designed power supply operating at line frequency was used for treating seeds, with exposure times ranging from 1 to 7 min. Various germination parameters, including water contact angle measurements, mass loss, water imbibition rate, and seedling length, were evaluated to assess the impact of plasma treatment on seed germination. Results: Cucumber seeds exposed to NTP treatment for 3 min and 5 min durations showed significant germination improvements, notably a 57.9 ± 4.25 % higher final germination percentage, 14.5 ± 3.75 % reduced mean germination time, and a remarkable 90.6 ± 4.64 % increase in germination index compared to the control. These results suggest that NTP treatment enhanced seed coat permeability, triggered essential biochemical processes, and expedited water absorption and nutrient assimilation, ultimately fostering faster and more synchronized germination. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the potential of NTP as an innovative approach to improving seed germination in agricultural practices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023086681Non-thermal plasma (NTP)Germination performanceCucumber seedsDielectric barrier dischargeReactive species |
| spellingShingle | Rajesh Prakash Guragain Hom Bahadur Baniya Deepesh Prakash Guragain Suman Prakash Pradhan Deepak Prasad Subedi From seed to sprout: Unveiling the potential of non-thermal plasma for optimizing cucumber growth Heliyon Non-thermal plasma (NTP) Germination performance Cucumber seeds Dielectric barrier discharge Reactive species |
| title | From seed to sprout: Unveiling the potential of non-thermal plasma for optimizing cucumber growth |
| title_full | From seed to sprout: Unveiling the potential of non-thermal plasma for optimizing cucumber growth |
| title_fullStr | From seed to sprout: Unveiling the potential of non-thermal plasma for optimizing cucumber growth |
| title_full_unstemmed | From seed to sprout: Unveiling the potential of non-thermal plasma for optimizing cucumber growth |
| title_short | From seed to sprout: Unveiling the potential of non-thermal plasma for optimizing cucumber growth |
| title_sort | from seed to sprout unveiling the potential of non thermal plasma for optimizing cucumber growth |
| topic | Non-thermal plasma (NTP) Germination performance Cucumber seeds Dielectric barrier discharge Reactive species |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023086681 |
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