Inactivation of the Tomato Pathogen Cladosporium fulvum by an Atmospheric-Pressure Cold Plasma Jet

• Published in: Plasma processes and polymers Vol. 11; no. 11; pp. 1028 - 1036
• Main Authors: Lu, Qianqian, Liu, Dongping, Song, Ying, Zhou, Renwu, Niu, Jinhai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2014; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Ar/O2 plasmas; atmospheric-pressure plasma jets (APPJ); Cladding; Cladosporium fulvum; Crop diseases; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Inactivation; inactivation rates; Lycopersicon esculentum; Membranes; Pathogens; Plant diseases; Plasma; Plasma density; plasma inactivation; Proteins; Tomatoes
• DOI: 10.1002/ppap.201400070
• ISSN: 1612-8850

Plant diseases resulting from plant pathogens are profoundly affecting crops worldwide. In this study, the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum (C. fulvum) have been inactivated by using the atmospheric‐pressure plasma jet (APPJ). The results show that the inactivation efficiencies of C. fulvum are dependent on the plasma density and treatment time. The APPJ with a relatively high plasma density can completely kill the resistant C. fulvum within the treatment time of 60 s. Due to plasma generating electrostatic force, the outer membrane of C. fulvum is disrupted and the cytoplasm is released to the surrounding medium. Both protein and DNA molecules can be destroyed during the plasma inactivation. Meanwhile, the APPJ can also provide a novel approach to decrease the rotting rates of C. fulvum‐infected tomato seeds. The plant pathogen Cladosporium fulvum (C. fulvum) as one of major infection sources of tomato leafmold has been inactivated by using the atmospheric‐pressure plasma jet (APPJ). The APPJ with a relatively high plasma density can break the outer membrane of C. fulvum as well as protein and DNA molecules. Within the treatment time of 60 s, APPJ can completely kill the resistant C. fulvum.