Effects of DBD air plasma treatment on the enhancement of black gram (Vigna mungo l.) seed germination and growth

Abstract Effects of black gram (vigna mungo L.cv. Barimash 3) seed treatments with 400 torr dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) air plasma on seed surface morphology, seed germination, seedling growth and antioxidant enzyme activities in the roots, shoots and leaves were investigated. The plasma discharge voltage, frequency, electrode spacing, gas temperature and power were 5 k V , 4.5 k H z , 60 m m , 310 K and 45 W , respectively. The seeds were treated for the duration ranging from 20 to 180 s. Seed germination rate, seedling growth, total chlorophyll content, total soluble protein and sugar concentrations in the seedlings grown from the treated seeds were found to increase 13.67%, 37.13%, 37.26%,53.60% and 51.71%, respectively, with respect to control. This study reveals that the DBD air plasma was involved in the enhancement of nitrogen complex in the seed coat of black gram which upregulated the protein through nitrogen conversion that was ultimately responsible for the increased seed germination and seedling growth of black gram.