Improving Seed Germination and Peanut Yields by Cold Plasma Treatment

• Published in: Plasma science & technology Vol. 18; no. 10; pp. 1027 - 1033
• Main Author: 李玲 李建刚 申民翀 侯金凤 邵汉良 董元华 蒋佳峰
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.10.2016
• Subjects: 冷等离子体处理; 叶绿素含量; 幼苗生长; 根系干重; 植物生长; 生产量; 种子发芽率; 种子萌发
• ISSN: 1009-0630
• DOI: 10.1088/1009-0630/18/10/10

This study explored the effects of cold plasma treatment on seed germination, plant growth, and peanut yield. Cold plasma treatment improved germination and seedling growth, and the 120 W treatment produced the best effect. Germination potential and germination rate were markedly raised by 150% and 21%, respectively. Germination was accelerated and the uniformity of emergence improved. The apparent contact angle was decreased by 53%. Seedling shoot and root dry weights increased by 11% and 9%. Leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf nitrogen concentration, chlorophyll contents, and dry weight at the fruiting stage, together with plant height, stem diameter, and root dry weight at the mature stage were all markedly raised by the cold plasma treatment. The cold plasma treatment enhanced yield components, such as branch numbers per plant, pod numbers per plant, and 100 pod weights by 8%, 13%, and 9%, respectively, compared to the control. Furthermore, the yield improved by 10%. These results suggested that cold plasma treatment improved germination, plant growth, and yield, which might be due to the cold plasma increasing the leaf area, nitrogen concentrations, and chlorophyll contents.