The biological effects of surface dielectric barrier discharge on seed germination and plant growth with barley

Low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma has emerged as a very powerful technology to improve agricultural and food industries. Recently, various types of atmospheric pressure plasmas have applied to seed germination and plant growth. In this study, the barley (Hordeum vulgare) seeds have treated using a surface dielectric barrier discharge to investigate the biological effects on the seed germination, plant growth and functional metabolites. It was observed that the seed surface was cracked and eroded after plasma treatment, while the surface of non-treated seed was intact. The growth of plasma treated barley was increased by at the lowest 15% and at the highest 110% depending on plasma treatment duration, respectively. GABA content of plasma treated Saechal barley was slightly increased under no germination process, while DPPH activity was decreased at the same condition. Plasma may affect the biological effects on seed germination, plant growth, and changing of secondary metabolites through physical and chemical interactions, but it needs further experimental investigations and verified data to clarify their mechanisms.