Impact of Cold Plasma Treatments on Stored Wheat Quality and Field Emergence

Eco-agricultural methods are necessary to enhance sustainable agricultural practices. The use of superior seeds is crucial for long-term improvement in agricultural yields. Wheat seeds are stated the key inputs for high crop yield. This study aimed to investigate the impact of cold plasma treatments on stored wheat seed germination, chlorophyll content, peroxidase activity, and field emergence of Misr 3 wheat variety. Both fresh and old wheat seed lots were subjected to atmospheric pressure cold plasma treatment using an argon gas mixture (flow rate; 1 L/min). Oxygen (0.2 L/min) into several groups of wheat seeds. The plasma treatment was conducted four times (0,30, 60, and 90 seconds). The results indicated that pre-sowing cold plasma treatment significantly improved germination, seedling vigor, and boost chlorophyll content, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) compared to the control treatment. The most optimal germination and vitality were observed in seeds treated with plasma for 30 seconds. Results showed improvement in the studied traits when different bioactive seed lots undergo plasma treatment. Thus, this study recommends the use of cold plasma treatment as a novel and cost-effective method to enhance the quality of wheat seed lots and field emergence hence outstanding wheat yield.