Influence of Plasma on Pre-germination Metabolism of Maize

Manisha Thakur^1*, Guruprasad Kadur Narayan¹, Uttam Sharma² and Kundan Viliya²

¹Department of Life Science, Shri Vaishnav Institute of Science, SVVV, Indore, India.

²Department of Physics, Shri Vaishnav Institute of Science, SVVV, Indore, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail:manisha.muchhal@gmail.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CARJ.13.3.18

Article Publishing History

Received: 01 Sep 2025
Accepted: 15 Dec 2025
Published Online: 18 Dec 2025

Review Details

Reviewed by: Dr. Usman Mohammed Ali
Second Review by: Dr. Alireza Haghighi
Final Approval by: Dr. Torit Baran Bagchi

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Abstract:

The impact of pre-treating maize crop (Zea mays: GSF.2) seeds with Gaseous plasma utilizing different gases has been investigated. A gaseous glow discharge non-thermal plasma was produced in a plasma system, utilizing an RF power supply, with N₂, He, Ar, and H₂ as feeding gases. A dose-responsive curve with different exposure times and power input showed an optimum enhancement of seedling growth after exposure for 240 seconds at 30 W power input. Maximum enhancement in growth was obtained with N₂ plasma (55% in seedling length). Promotion in growth was lower with other gases comparatively (He, H₂, Ar). Biochemical analysis showed a rise in the level of H₂O₂ in the seeds exposed to plasma. This was followed by an elevated activity of the enzyme α-amylase, which degrades starch, the reserve food material in maize seeds. H₂O₂ acts as a signalling molecule to enhance the activity of the α-amylase enzyme. It is concluded that exposure of seeds to plasma alters pre-germination metabolism in maize seeds that results in enhanced growth of the seedlings.

Keywords:

α-amylase; Germination; H₂O_2; Maize; Plasma

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