In the current global context, with an increasing number of undernourished people and worldwide food demand for the steady population growth[1], the correct and reasonable use of all the available plant protection measures is expected to play a key role in limiting agricultural yield losses caused by various plant diseases, during both the pre- and postharvest production stages. Fungal diseases represent one of the main problems affecting the quality as well as quantity of agricultural production and food industry. Crop protection is usually achieved by the widespread use of synthetic fungicides. It is now recognized that an extensive use of such fungicides is associated with a range of environmental risks[2]. Innovative technologies, based on sustainability, human safety, and long-term eco-safety, are increasingly required. The atmospheric pressure low temperature plasma is becoming a suitable alternative/complementary tool[3]. In this contribution, we report on the effect of plasma treatment on important hytopathogenic fungi. Selected fungi cause quantitative and qualitative losses of agricultural production both in the field and postharvest. In detail, we focus our attention on the in vitro direct inhibitory effect of non-contact SDBD on spore germination of Botrytis cinerea, Monilinia fructicola, Aspergillus carbonarius and Alternaria alternata. Relatively short treatment time (few minutes) were required to completely inactivate the fungi on the growth medium. Morphological analysis of spores made by Scanning Electron Microscopy imaging suggests that the main mechanism is etching that could be attributed either to Reactive Oxygen Species or UV radiation, even though with a minor contribution, produced by plasma. Spectroscopic analysis of plasma generated in humid air provides an important evidence that the gas temperature of the active plasma layer should not play decisive role being very close to room temperature. In vivo experiments were also carried out on cherry fruits. The results demonstrate that inactivation of spores by direct inhibitory effect of surface DBD plasma is giving the fresh produce a shelf life longer that the artificially inoculated untreated one. Moreover, pre-treatment of fruit before inoculation improves the resistance to pathogen maybe activating the self-defense of the plant tissues.
FUNGAL PLANT PATHOGENS: INHIBITORY EFFECT OF SURFACE DIELECTRIC BARRIER DISCHARGE PLASMA
Ambrico PF;Minafra A;Ambrico M;
2021
Abstract
In the current global context, with an increasing number of undernourished people and worldwide food demand for the steady population growth[1], the correct and reasonable use of all the available plant protection measures is expected to play a key role in limiting agricultural yield losses caused by various plant diseases, during both the pre- and postharvest production stages. Fungal diseases represent one of the main problems affecting the quality as well as quantity of agricultural production and food industry. Crop protection is usually achieved by the widespread use of synthetic fungicides. It is now recognized that an extensive use of such fungicides is associated with a range of environmental risks[2]. Innovative technologies, based on sustainability, human safety, and long-term eco-safety, are increasingly required. The atmospheric pressure low temperature plasma is becoming a suitable alternative/complementary tool[3]. In this contribution, we report on the effect of plasma treatment on important hytopathogenic fungi. Selected fungi cause quantitative and qualitative losses of agricultural production both in the field and postharvest. In detail, we focus our attention on the in vitro direct inhibitory effect of non-contact SDBD on spore germination of Botrytis cinerea, Monilinia fructicola, Aspergillus carbonarius and Alternaria alternata. Relatively short treatment time (few minutes) were required to completely inactivate the fungi on the growth medium. Morphological analysis of spores made by Scanning Electron Microscopy imaging suggests that the main mechanism is etching that could be attributed either to Reactive Oxygen Species or UV radiation, even though with a minor contribution, produced by plasma. Spectroscopic analysis of plasma generated in humid air provides an important evidence that the gas temperature of the active plasma layer should not play decisive role being very close to room temperature. In vivo experiments were also carried out on cherry fruits. The results demonstrate that inactivation of spores by direct inhibitory effect of surface DBD plasma is giving the fresh produce a shelf life longer that the artificially inoculated untreated one. Moreover, pre-treatment of fruit before inoculation improves the resistance to pathogen maybe activating the self-defense of the plant tissues.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
