Non-thermal plasma: new technology for pathogen control and improvement on the quality of soybean seeds

BALESTRASSE,KARINA; PÉREZ PIZÁ, MARÍA CECILIA; PREVOSTO, LEANDRO; ZILLI, CARLA; NORIEGA, GUILLERMO; KELLY, HÉCTOR

Londres

Congreso; 10th International Conference on Agriculture & Horticulture; 2017

OMICS International

Statement of the Problem: Soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the most important crops worldwide. Diaporthe/Phomopsiscomplex is one of the causal agents of soybean stem canker and pod and stem blight. It is well known that agrochemicalsremain in the harvested products as in the fields and they disrupt the natural state of the microbiological flora leading to theformation of resistant strains. Considering the fact that storage provokes a deterioration of the biological quality of the seeds,the reduction of fungal contamination is of great interest.Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Non-thermal plasma is a fast, economic and pollution-free method. It is based onnon-ionizing low-level radiation, which can activate the vitality of seeds but without causing gene mutations. Soybean seedswere exposed to a multi filamentous dielectric barrier (Pertinax ? Mylar (P-M) and Thernophase (T)). Different gases (O2and N2) were used to transport the active agents of the plasma. In this work, we focus on the ability of the plasma to controlDiaporthe/Phomopsis in soybean seed.Findings: The results showed a decreased in the presence of the pathogen and an increase of the germination percentage andvigour test on the seeds with plasma treatment (P-M: O2 2 min and N2 3 min and T: O2 3min and N2 3min) respect to thepathogen control. We evaluated different oxidative enzymes as well as lipid peroxidation in seeds. These results demonstratedan activation of the antioxidant defenses in soybean seeds reversing the oxidative damage caused by the fungi. Changes in thelipid composition of the seed membranes were evaluated.Conclusion & Significance: Plasma treatments were efficient in controlling Diaporthe/Phomopsis infection in soybean seeds.Therefore, this innovative technology would allow a reduction of environmental contamination by agrochemicals in soil andwater.