Seed priming with cold plasma improved seedling performance,secondary metabolism,and expression of deacetylvindoline O-acetyltransferase gene in Catharanthus roseus

The plasma-primed seeds of Catharanthus roseus were cultured in a hormone-free culture medium under sterile conditions. Plasma of 30 or 60 s improved root length (mean = 41.4%) and biomass (mean = 47%), whereas plasma of 90 s delayed plant growth. The plasma treatments enhanced concentrations of photosynthetic pigments and soluble phenols. Plasma of 90 s increased the proline level. With a similar trend, plasma priming induced activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, catalase (about twofold) and peroxidase (31%) enzymes. Plasma also upregulated the expressions of deacetylvindoline O-acetyltransferase gene by an average of 7.8 times. Similarly, the plasma-treated seedlings contained higher concentrations of alkaloids (mean = 72%). Here, molecular evidence is provided on the plasma-associated modifications in secondary metabolism.     

Non-thermal Plasma Induced Expression of Heat Shock Factor A4A and Improved Wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) Growth and Resistance Against Salt Stress

There is a huge interest in making and applying innovating functional devices based on basic sciences (like physics) to improve plant growth and resistance against various stress conditions. This research was carried out in order to investigate effects of cold plasma on expressions of heat shock factor A4A (HSFA4A), plant growth and post reactions to salt stress. Wheat seedlings were treated with plasma (0.84 W/cm² surface power densities) at different exposure times. In both three and 6 h after plasma, inductions in expressions of HSFA4A were recorded in roots, compared to control. Six hours after treatments, plasma-induced the shoot expressions of HSFA4A in the treated seedlings, contrasted to 3 h. Plasma treatment caused not the only enhancement in shoot fresh and dry mass and total leaf area, but also alleviated adverse impacts of salinity. Destroying impacts of salinity on chlorophyll contents were mitigated by plasma. Peroxidase activity was decreased by 27% for salinity treatment alone over control, while it was increased by 15% for plasma and salinity-treated samples, compared to salinity control. The highest activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) were found in plasma treatment alone. PAL activity was found to be higher in plasma-pretreated seedlings counteracted to salt stress, relative to the salinity control. The plasma treatment may act as an effective elicitor to modify gene expression, thereby improving plant growth and resistance. Plasma technology should be considered as a new functional technology in plant sciences.     

Seed Priming with Non-thermal Plasma Modified Plant Reactions to Selenium or Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Cold Plasma as a Novel Emerging Tool for Plant Science

Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing - This research explored the capability of seed priming with the non-thermal plasma to modify reactions of Melissa officinalis, an important medicinal plant,...