Plasma Activated Water: Implication as Fungicide, Growth and Yield Stimulator of Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.)

Abstract

Seed germination rate, plant growth, and yield of crops are increased due to treatment of seeds with atmospheric pressure cold plasma (ACP). Seed treatment and foliar spray with ACP-treated water (PAWs) may play important roles in the control of plant disease because of the presence of highly reactive oxygen species in water. PAWs were prepared with atmospheric pressure discharges in waters with different treatment durations. The present experiment explored the effects of seed treatment and foliar spray by PAWs to control late blight disease and the yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). The study reveals that the late blight incidence, disease severity, and the number of leaf infections were significantly reduced, with a few exceptions, in comparison with control, due to the seed treatments and foliar spry of PAWs. The plant height, tuber number, and tuber yield were increased. The results obtained in this filed experiment are promising. Thus, this investigation reveals that the PAWs can be an effective alternative of fungicides to control the late blight disease and to stimulate the enhancement of yield of potato as well. Further investigations have to be conducted in order to draw definite conclusion.