Laboratory of plasma applications in agriculture

Laboratory of plasma applications in agriculture

 

Plasma source:

Plasma reactor based on DCSBD modified for treatment of plant seeds generating low temperature plasma in ambient air (N2, CO2, O2) at atmospheric pressure

 

The main aim of research 

  • The design, construction and verification of the prototype plasma device based on low-temperature plasma
  • Treatment of plant seeds for sowing (cereals, legumes, nuts, spices and other) and stored agricultural commodities (mainly cereals, nuts, dried fruits) destined for human nutrition of the population as well as for farm animals
  • The study of the plasma effects on growth, physiological, biochemical, molecular and anatomy-structural aspects of plants seeds after seed plasma treatment
  • The diagnostics of low-temperature plasma using optical and electrical methods and the assessment of correlation between the plasma parameters and the optimal plasma effects on the surface of biological materials

 

 

 Bioapp

 

Materials 

  • cereals (maize, wheat, barley)
  • legumes (peas, soyabeans, beans)
  • spices (black pepper)
  • nuts (hazelnuts, peanuts)

 

Diagnostics of plasma influence on biological material

  • Physiological properties
    • Germination and growth parameters
  • Decontamination of surface
    • Influence of plasma on native and artificial microcenosis
  • Content of biological active compounds
    • Antioxidants and oxidative characteristics
    • Qualitative parameters of oil in nuts
    • Detection of piperine in pepper
  • Physical (surface) properties
    • Surface wettability – WCA, imbibition
    • Influence of plasma on surface morphology – SEM
    • Changes in chemical bonds – ATR –FTIR
    • Ageing of plasma treatment

 

 Kukurica  Kuk1  Kuk2

Fig. 1 Plasma treatment of maize in ambient air using DCSBD

Fig. 2 Germination and seedlings characteristics of untreated and plasma treated maize seeds

 

 

F.nivale1

 F.nivale2 F.nivale3

  Pepper

Tomato

Fig. 3 Inactivation of Fusarium nivale on wheat (control, 30s and 60 s plasma treated sample after 3 days)
 SEMpepper

Fig. 4. Morphology characterization of untreated and plasma treated black peppercorn

Fig. 5. Biomass production of plants from untreated and treated seeds

 

Collaboration with:

  • Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, Slovakia
  • Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia

 

Contact:

Doc. RNDr. Anna Zahoranová, PhD.
F2-40
Email: zahoranova(at)fmph.uniba.sk
Phone Nr: +421 2 602 95 529

 

RNDr. Veronika Medvecká, PhD.
F2-41
Email: veronika.medvecka(at)fmph.uniba.sk
Phone Nr: +421 2 602 95 677