Water uptake mechanism and germination of Erythrina velutina seeds treated with atmospheric plasma.
The effect of plasma applied to mulungu (Erythrina velutina) seeds was studied to verify its influence on the germination, water absorption, wettability and structure of the seeds. The plasma jet used in this study was produced by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in a helium gas flow of 0.03 L/s at a distance of 13 mm for 60 s. The plasma treatment significantly affected the seed germination rate, which was approximately 5% higher than that of the untreated group. Micropyle and hilum contributed a greater proportion to uptake. When sealed in the hilar or micropyle regions the amount of water absorbed into the seed decreased approximately 75% compared to the unsealed seed. This difference suggests that these two regions together act cooperatively in the water absorption. However, when plasma treated seed was blocked in the micropyle region, water absorption was higher higher than in seeds blocked hilum. This difference suggests that the plasma treatment changed the wettability of the hilum more effectively than it changed the micropyle. These results indicate that plasma can significantly change the hydrophilicity, water absorption and percentage of seed germination in E. velutina.
Plasma Laboratory Applied to Agriculture, Health and Environment (LabPlasma), Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid Region, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Clodomiro
C
Alves Junior
Plasma Laboratory Applied to Agriculture, Health and Environment (LabPlasma), Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid Region, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Jussier
J
de Oliveira Vitoriano
Plasma Laboratory Applied to Agriculture, Health and Environment (LabPlasma), Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid Region, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Dinnara Layza Souza
DL
da Silva
Plasma Laboratory Applied to Agriculture, Health and Environment (LabPlasma), Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid Region, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Mikelly
M
de Lima Farias
Postgraduate Program in Natural Resources, University of Rio Grande do Norte State, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Nadjamara Bandeira
NB
de Lima Dantas
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