Low-Pressure Plasma as a Seed Coat to Enhance the Growth of Wheat Seedlings for Obtaining Future Outcomes Under Salinity Conditions

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Abstract The increased drought and soil salinity are two effects of climate change that threaten global food security and food production. Soil salinity is a major challenge for agriculture in arid areas, creating conditions that may be unsuitable for the growth of crop plants. Here, we use recycled organic tree waste combined with low-pressure plasma treatment as grain coating to improve the ability of Egyptian wheat seeds (Misr-1 and Gemme-za-11) to survive, germinate and produce seedlings in highly saline soil. We coated the seeds with biofilms of lignin and hash carbon to form a protective extracellular polymeric matrix and then exposed them to low-pressure plasma for different periods of time. The effectiveness of the coating and plasma was evaluated by characterizing the physical and surface properties of coated seeds using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and wettability testing. We also evaluated biological and physiological properties of coated seeds and plants they produced by studying germination and seedling vigor, as well as by characterizing fitness parameters of the plants derived from the seeds. The analysis revealed the optimal plasma exposure time to enhance germination and seedling growth. Taken together, our study suggests that combining the use of recycled organic tree waste and low-pressure plasma may represent a viable strategy for improving crop performance in salty environments.

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