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Oyster mushroom cultivation can be hindered by slow budding and low yield. This study explored the potential of atmospheric pressure gliding arc discharge plasma to address these challenges. Two types (direct and indirect) of plasma treatment methods were applied to the mushroom spawn and straw, and plasma-activated water in the growth environment in oyster mushrooms. Physicochemical characterization of plasma-activated water revealed increased conductivity, oxidation-reduction potential, nitrate/nitrite levels, and hydrogen peroxide with longer treatment times, and decreased pH of water. Plasma-treated spawn exhibited faster budding and earlier colonization compared to others. The longest stem was observed in spawn exposed to plasma. Mushrooms produced with a spawn treatment, straw, and plasma-activated water spray have positively influenced production and biological efficiency. Therefore, compared to the control spawn, the production of mushroom spawn treated with plasma increased nearly 1.5 times. Overall, plasma treatment enhanced mushroom development and yield, indicating its positive impact on oyster growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The generation of ozone by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is widely used for water and wastewater treatment, the control of catalytic reactions, and surface treatment. Recently, a need for compact, effective, and economical ozone and reactive oxygen–nitrogen species (RONS) generators for medical, biological, and agricultural applications has been observed. In this study, a novel hybrid DBD (HDBD) reactor fulfilling such requirements is presented. Its structured high-voltage (HV) electrode allows for the ignition of both the surface and volume microdischarges contributing to plasma generation. A Peltier module cooling of the dielectric barrier, made of alumina, allows for the efficient control of plasma chemistry. The typical electrical power consumption of this device is below 30 W. The operation frequency of the DBD driver oscillating in the auto-resonance mode is from 20 to 40 kHz. The specific energy input (SEI) of the reactor was controlled by the DBD driver input voltage in the range from 10.5 to 18.0 V, the Peltier current from 0 to 4.5 A, the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulated (PWM) power varied from 0 to 100%, and the gas flow from 0.5 to 10 SLM. The operation with oxygen, synthetic air, and compressed dry air (CDA) was characterized. The ultraviolet light (UV) absorption technique was implemented for the measurement of the ozone concentration. The higher harmonics of the discharge current observed in the frequency range of 5 to 50 MHz were used for monitoring the discharge net power.

The extensive use of chemical fertilizers to increase crop yields in agricultural fields has had a negative impact on the environment. To produce more food on less land and fulfill the growing global demand for food, farmers will need innovative and environmentally friendly technology. Several studies have cited the positive effects of plasma-activated water (PAW) on seeds in their research findings. This study investigates the effects of PAW on four distinct seed species: phapar (Fagopyrum esculentum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), mustard (Brassica nigra), and rayo (Brassica juncea). Deionized (DI) water was treated for 5 or 10 min using the gliding arc discharge (GAD) system, which was operated by line frequency in the air. Water analysis indicates that the physiochemical parameters (electrical conductivity, pH, nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia concentration) of PAW were significantly different from DI water. Despite exposure to GAD for a certain period of time, the temperature of DI water did not alter significantly. All calculated germination parameters were significantly enhanced for seeds treated with PAW compared to the control. In addition, they displayed a significant increase in total seedling length and exhibited greater vigor. Seeds immersed in PAW absorbed significantly more water than seeds soaked in DI water, enabling rapid water penetration into the seed and early seedling emergence. This puts plasma agriculture ahead of conventional farming methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of seed germination is described as the culmination of a series of events that start with wetting and end with the emergence of the embryo (typically the radicle) from the seed coat. This method has an impact on crop output and quality. The characteristics of the seed surface and the surroundings have an impact on the kinetics and volume of water absorption by seeds. As a result, modifying the characteristics of a seed's surface is a useful tactic for influencing seed germination. Low-temperature plasma (LTP) treatment of the seed for surface activation is now being researched as an effective pre-sowing technique. This study looked at the effects of LTP on radish (Raphanus sativus) seeds at room temperature for various times. The seed's germination properties, growth parameters, water contact angle (WCA), Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM), and FTIR analysis were examined. WCA and SEM examination revealed a considerable alteration in the seed coat following LTP treatment, which is directly connected to water permeability into the seeds. Similarly, FTIR analysis confirmed that the enhancement of the hydrophilic properties of the seeds following plasma treatment is likely due to the damage of the hydrophobic moieties on the seeds' surface. The LTP treatment improved each germination-related parameter, including the vigor index, chlorophyll content, in-vitro radical scavenging activities, total flavonoid, and phenol in the seedlings. Our findings indicate that LTP treatment has a beneficial impact on early seed sprouting and the development of radish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we have studied the inactivation of Candida albicans (C. albicans) and lemon (Citrus limon) spoilage fungi using plasma activated water (PAW). Air and N2 are used as plasma forming gases for PAW preparation. Optical emission spectroscopy is used to determine various active radicals and species present in the air and N2 plasma. The present study shows the changes in physicochemical properties and reactive oxygen–nitrogen species formed in PAW. Furthermore, the fungicidal efficacy of PAW is investigated on C. albicans. The role of oxidizing potential of PAW and PAW treatment time with fungi (C. albicans and Citrus limon spoilage fungi) is investigated in the present work. Results showed high oxidizing PAW can achieve 6 + log10 CFU ml−1 reduction in fungi even with low treatment time. Morphology analysis by HR-SEM, leaked nucleic acids and protein measurement by UV–visible spectroscopy, and PI binding red fluorescence of cells showed PAW treatment with C. albicans damaged the membrane of cells due to which leakage of extracellular materials occurred that led to cells death. The present study also reveals the long-term fungicidal efficacy of PAW on C. albicans and Citrus limon spoilage fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]