Non-thermal plasmas for disease control and abiotic stress management inplants

Susmita C. (1, 2) , S. P. Jeevan Kumar (2) , Anjani Devi Chintagunta (3) , Eric Lichtfouse (4) , Bhojaraj Naik (2) , Ramya P. (2) , Kalyani Kumari (2, 1) , Sanjay Kumar (2, 1)

1 Indian Institute of Seed Science
2 ICAR - Indian Council of Agricultural Research
3 Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology and Research
4 CEREGE - Centre européen de recherche et d'enseignement des géosciences de l'environnement

Climate change is predicted to cause severe loss in agricultural production by increasing disease epidemics and intensifying abiotic stresses. Therefore, there is a need for sustainable methods to alleviate plant stress, such as non-thermal plasma. Here we review the role of non-thermal plasma for plant treatment, with focus on the control of viruses, bacteria, fungi and other diseases. We present factors influencing the microbicidal activity of non-thermal plasma. Application of non-thermal plasma for combating abiotic stresses such as drought, metal toxicity, nanoparticles and salinity are discussed. Plasma-generated reactive species trigger the activity of stress-responsive genes in plants. The hypothetical mechanisms involved in triggering the activity of different stress-responsive genes controlling diseases as well as abiotic stresses, are also presented and discussed. The mechanism of plant-plasma interaction is similar to priming, hormesis or adaptive response, and resembles vaccination in animals and humans.

Mots clés: Climate change; Disease; Abiotic stress; Non-thermal plasma; Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species; Oxidative stress; Stress-responsive genes

Domaines: Phytopathologie et phytopharmacie; Sciences agricoles; Plasmas

Susmita C., S. P. Jeevan Kumar, Anjani Devi Chintagunta, Eric Lichtfouse, Bhojaraj Naik, et al.. Non-thermal plasmas for disease control and abiotic stress management inplants. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 2022, 20, pp.2135-2164. ⟨10.1007/s10311-022-01399-9⟩. ⟨hal-03662814⟩