Highlighting the cold plasma effect on Wheat performance: Enhancing drought tolerance, and improving baking quality

Plasma treatment is a promising approach to enhance plant growth and stress tolerance, particularly under drought. This study assessed the effects of plasma treatment on the physiological and morphological traits of Triticum aestivum (wheat) under normal and drought conditions.Treatments were applied at two intensities (200 W and 500 W) and varying durations. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to probe potential chemical changes in the seed coat induced by plasma exposure. Our results show that plasma treatment at 500 W with longer duration yielded the most pronounced improvements in morphological and physiological traits. Clustering and heatmap analysis indicated significant increases in stem and root length, soluble sugars, proline content, activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT). Field trials corroborated these findings, revealing that plasma treatments markedly enhanced biochemical traits, especially under drought stress. Moreover, the combination of plasma treatment and drought stress produced a time-dependent rise in proline and soluble sugars. Correspondingly, reductions in malondialdehyde (MDA) level suggested diminished membrane oxidative damage. FTIR spectra revealed plasma-induced structural modifications in the seed coat associated with improved water uptake, germination, and seedling establishment. Notably, plasma treatment, particularly under drought, not only increased wheat flour protein content and Zeleny gluten index but also improved bread volume relative to controls and drought-only treatments. These synergistic effects, together with stable moisture content and enhanced water absorption, support plasma treatment as a strategy to boost drought tolerance and baking quality in wheat. • Under drought stress, plasma greatly increases the germination of wheat seeds • Plasma increases the activity of the enzymes SOD and CAT in drought samples • Higher levels of proline and sugars enhance resistance to drought in plasma samples • Plasma improves water uptake by changing the chemistry of the seed coat. • Plasma treatment improves baking quality of wheat.