Effects of plasma and its activated water on gene expression of Medicago truncatula.

In this study, the seeds of Medicago truncatula are treated with plasma and plasma‐activated water (PAW), and the RNA sequencing (RNA‐Seq) of the seedlings is performed to analyze the gene expression changes. It is found that plasma treatment has no significant effect on seed survival rate, but PAW has an obvious lethal effect. Both methods result in the differential expression of a large number of genes in seedlings, and the expression of genes with the function of promoting plant growth and metabolism is significantly upregulated. The roots of seedlings in PAW group grow lateral roots. This study provides new ideas and experimental evidence for PAW plant culture research and has a guiding significance for leguminous plant breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]