Molecular processes invoved in plant Response to pre-sowing seed treatment with cold plasma and electromagnetic field

Abstract

New emerging interdisciplinary field of research on cold plasma (CP) and electromagnetic field (EF) applications for agriculture is directed towards exploiting of the potential of plant functional plasticity. Seed stress induced by treatment with CP and EF leads to improved seed germination, faster seedling growth and other beneficial effects. Our recent studies were focused on considering the observed plant responses in the context of seed physiology and development. The experiments were performed on 3 perennial woody species, 2 perennial medicinal plants and 4 annual plant species (Helianthus annuus, Arabidopsis thaliana; Raphanus sativus, Fagopyrum esculentum). We report novel findings important for understanding of CP and EF treatment effects: (1) the extent of the observed effects on germination is dependent on seed dormancy status characterized by seed hormonal balance (the most important is ratio between absisic acid, ABA and gibberrelins, GA). We showed that seed treatments induce rapid decrease in ABA/GA ratio indicating that CP and EF are extremely powerful dormancy breaking agents; (2) seed treatments modulate H2O2 production in germinating seeds, so that CP treatments inhibiting germination decrease ROS generation while EF treatments stimulating germination result in increased ROS generation; (3) seed treatments induce substantial changes in the amount of secondary metabolites (SM) and antioxidative activity in leaves growing seedlings of E. purpurea, T. pratense and F. esculentum. That may possibly lead to increased seedling establishment and defense potential (SM function as antioxidants, antimicrobial compounds or means for plant communication); (4) results of differential proteomic analysis performed on control, CP and EF treated H. annuus seeds and leaves of seedlings have revealed significant changes in expression of more than 30 proteoforms in seeds and more that 100 proteoforms [...]