Optimizing Tomato Seed Performance Through Cold Atmospheric Plasma: Effects on Germination Rates and Early Biomass...

Modern agriculture faces increasing pressure from rising food demand, resource degradation, and biotic stress factors, highlighting the need for sustainable, non-chemical technologies. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has emerged as a promising non-chemical seed-priming technology with potential applications in sustainable agriculture. The present study investigated the effects of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)-generated CAP on seed germination and early seedling development in two Solanum lycopersicum genotypes (a common variety and an IdB hybrid) under controlled laboratory conditions. Seeds were exposed to CAP for 1, 2, 3, or 4 min, while untreated seeds served as controls. Early plant performance was evaluated after 47 days by determining germination rate, fresh biomass, dry biomass, and mineral biomass (ash content). CAP exposure duration significantly affected all gravimetric parameters in both genotypes. Among the tested treatments, 1 min exposure consistently produced the highest fresh, dry, and mineral biomass values, whereas longer exposure times (3-4 min) generally reduced seedling growth, indicating the transition from beneficial physiological stimulation to stress-induced inhibition. Despite the more pronounced response observed in the IdB hybrid, the statistical analysis demonstrated that treatment duration, rather than genotype, was the principal factor influencing biomass accumulation. The present results indicate that short-duration CAP treatment represents an effective seed-priming strategy for improving early tomato seedling development.