Influence of Plasma Activated Water Generated in a Gliding Arc Discharge Reactor on Germination of Beetroot and Carrot Seeds

One of the new methods of protecting and supporting plant growth is the use of low-temperature plasma. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of using plasma activated water produced in an atmospheric pressure gliding arc reactor for germination of beetroot (Beta vulgaris) and carrot (Daucus carota) seeds. The study was carried out for different plasma treatment times of water (5, 10 and 20 min) and with fixed geometry and power of the discharge system, using air as the working gas. The effect on germination was evaluated based on the fraction of germinated seeds and their length at 7 and 14 days after treatment. Analysis of fungi present on the seed surface and imaging of the seed surface using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were auxiliary methods to evaluate the type of treatment effect. In the case of beetroot, a positive effect on the number and length of germinated seeds was observed, which increased with increasing treatment time. This effect can be attributed, among other things, to the surface changes observed on microscopic photographs. In the case of carrot seeds, a more significant positive effect on germination was observed. Fungal decontamination effect was relatively weaker than with the use of the chemical method with sodium hypochlorite.