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Plasma activated water: the next generation eco-friendly stimulant for enhancing plant seed germination, vigor and increased enzyme activity, a study on black gram (Vigna mungo L.)

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Abstract

Chemical fertilization in agriculture is threatening to the ecosystem. Therefore, the use of eco-friendly stimulant for crop revolution is highly desirable. This study investigates the effects of plasma activated water (PAW) created by treating de-ionized water with high voltage discharge on black gram. Results showed significant improvements in different agronomic traits. Significant changes in H2O2, a reactive-oxygen-species (ROS) were observed in seeds, leaves, and roots. Increase in catalase (ROS scavenger) was also observed in roots of plants grown from 3 and 6 min PAW treated seeds which was consistent with the upregulation of VmCAT gene. This reveals that PAW is associated with elevated H2O2 in black gram in a tightly regulated manner by the upregulation of CAT activity resulted in increased germination, growth, and development. Non-covalent binding pattern of H2O2 with CAT through docking strongly supports this phenomenon. It does suggest that the increase of H2O2 tightly regulated by the upregulation of CAT provides optimum conditions for improved seed germination and growth in black gram. These findings reveal the benefits of PAW for enhanced crop production.

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Acknowledgements

Mamunur Rashid Talukder would like to thank Ministry of Education, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, for partial financial support to carry out research work under Grant No.: LS2017544. Authors are also grateful to Invent Technologies Limited, Bangladesh for their technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Biology and Protein Science Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh

    Salek Ahmed Sajib, Mutasim Billah, Shafi Mahmud, Masum Miah, Forhad Hossain, Farjana Binta Omar, Kazi Md Faisal Hoque & Md Abu Reza

  2. Plasma Science and Technology Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics and Electronic Engineering, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh

    Nepal Chandra Roy & Mamunur Rashid Talukder

  3. Molecular Plant Physiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, 6205, Bangladesh

    Ahmad Humayun Kabir

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  1. Salek Ahmed Sajib
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Contributions

SAS performed most of the experiments and prepared the draft manuscript. MB, SM, MM, FH, FBO and KMFH assisted in some biochemical analysis. NCR and MRT performed plasma treatment on seeds. AHK provided valuable advice during the research work. MAR supervised the whole work and revised the manuscript along with MRT.

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Correspondence to Md Abu Reza.

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Sajib, S.A., Billah, M., Mahmud, S. et al. Plasma activated water: the next generation eco-friendly stimulant for enhancing plant seed germination, vigor and increased enzyme activity, a study on black gram (Vigna mungo L.). Plasma Chem Plasma Process 40, 119–143 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-019-10028-3

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