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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Phys.
Sec. Low-Temperature Plasma Physics
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphy.2024.1399910
This article is part of the Research Topic

Plasma and Related Sciences: Experimental and Theoretical Approaches

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Assessing Plasma Activated Water Irrigation Effects on Tomato Seedlings Provisionally Accepted

Domenico Aceto1 Palma Rosa Rotondo2 CARLO PORFIDO2 Benedetta Bottiglione3 Costantino Paciolla3 Roberto Terzano2 Angelantonio Minafra4 Marianna Ambrico1 Giorgio Dilecce1 Beniamino Leoni2 Rita Milvia De Miccolis Angelini2* Paolo F. Ambrico4*
  • 1Institute for Plasma Science and Technology, Department of Physical Sciences and Technologies of Matter, National Research Council (CNR), Italy
  • 2Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy
  • 3Department of Biosciences, Biotechnology and Environment ,University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy
  • 4Institute for the Sustainable Protection of Plants, Bari branch, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council (CNR), Italy

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The study assesses the efficacy of Plasma Activated Water (PAW) as an innovative irrigation medium for enhancing growth and defense responses in tomato seedlings, both healthy and inoculated with Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV). PAW, generated through plasma-based technologies, offers a chemical-free alternative to traditional fertilizers, harnessing reactive species formed during plasma discharge to foster biochemical transformations and responses. Biometric measurements revealed significant growth enhancement in PAW-irrigated samples compared to conventional fertilization methods. Biochemical analysis indicated increased levels of antioxidant molecules and pigments in PAW-treated seedlings, suggesting improved photosynthetic activity and stress tolerance capability.Gene expression analysis demonstrated up-regulation of defense genes in PAW-treated plants after exposure to viral infection, potentially enhancing resilience against pathogens. Furthermore, PAW treatment mitigated nutrient deficiencies and restored mineral nutrient distribution in virus-infected plants, reducing crop losses. These findings underscore PAW's potential as a sustainable agricultural solution, promoting plant growth, enhancing defense mechanisms, and mitigating biotic stress caused by virus infection.

Keywords: PAW, low-temperature-plasma, Tomato seedlings, Plant Growth, gene expression Tomato mottle mosaic virus, Micro X-ray fluorescence

Received: 12 Mar 2024; Accepted: 09 Apr 2024.

Copyright: © 2024 Aceto, Rotondo, PORFIDO, Bottiglione, Paciolla, Terzano, Minafra, Ambrico, Dilecce, Leoni, De Miccolis Angelini and Ambrico. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence:
Prof. Rita Milvia De Miccolis Angelini, Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, 70121, Italy
Dr. Paolo F. Ambrico, Institute for the Sustainable Protection of Plants, Bari branch, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council (CNR), Bari, 70126, Italy