Exploitation of Cold Plasma Technology in Agriculture

Cold plasma is an emerging nonthermal technology primarily used for microbial disinfection and surface modification. Nowadays, the principle of plasma surface modification is exploited in food and agriculture. The aim of the present review is to give some insights on cold plasma technology exploitation for enhancement of seed germination. The seed germination rate can be increased on application of cold plasma by both direct and indirect treatments. Recently, the indirect treatment through the application of plasma activated water (PAW) has drawn some attention. The formation of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species in the plasma are mainly responsible for increase in seed germination rate. Of all those reactive species formed in the PAW, the nitrate ions serves as the fertilizer and NO radical breakdown dormancy which enhanced the seed germination rate. The synergistic effect of cold plasma can replace the traditional seed disinfection solutions and chemical seed germination enhancers.