Seed Treatment with Cold Plasma and Electromagnetic Field: Changes in Antioxidant Capacity of Seedlings in Different (L.) H. Karst Half-Sib Families.

Abstract

In the context of climate change, methods to improve the resistance of coniferous trees to biotic and abiotic stress are in great demand. The common plant response to exposure to vastly different stressors is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) followed by activation of the defensive antioxidant system. We aimed to evaluate whether seed treatment with physical stressors can activate the activity of antioxidant enzymes and radical scavenging activity in young (L.) H. Karst seedlings. For this, we applied seed treatment with cold plasma (CP) and electromagnetic field (EMF) and compared the response in ten different half-sib families of Norway spruce. The impact of the treatments with CP (1 min-CP1; 2 min-CP2) and EMF (2 min) on one-year-old and two-year-old seedlings was determined by the emergence rate, parameters of growth, and spectrophotometric assessment of antioxidant capacity (enzyme activity; DPPH and ABTS scavenging) in needles. The results indicated that the impact of seed treatment is strongly dependent on the genetic family. In the 577 half-sib family, the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POX), and glutathione reductase (GR) increased after EMF-treatment in one-year-old seedlings, while similar effects in 477 half-sib family were induced by CP2 treatment. In two-year-old seedlings, CP1-treatment increased CAT, APX, POX, GR, SOD, DPPH, and ABTS activity in the 457 half-sib family. However, no significant impact of the treatment with CP1 was determined in one-year-old seedlings in this family. The application of novel technologies and the consideration of the combinatory impact of genetic and physical factors could have the potential to improve the accumulation of compounds that play an essential role in the defense mechanisms of . Nevertheless, for different resistance and responses to stressors of plants, their genetic properties play an essential role. A comprehensive analysis of interactions among the stress factors (CP and EMF), genetic properties, and changes induced in the antioxidant system can be of importance both for the practical application of seed treatment in forestry and for understanding fundamental adaptation mechanisms in conifers.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Seed treatment effects depended strongly on genetic family. In one-year-old seedlings, EMF (2 min) increased CAT, APX, POX, and GR activity in the 577 half-sib family, while similar increases in the 477 family were induced by 2 min cold plasma. In two-year-old seedlings, 1 min cold plasma increased CAT, APX, POX, GR, SOD, DPPH, and ABTS activity in the 457 family, but no significant impact of 1 min cold plasma was found in one-year-old seedlings of that family.

Outcomes measured

• Emergence rate
• Growth parameters
• Antioxidant enzyme activity in needles (CAT, APX, POX, GR, SOD)
• Radical scavenging activity (DPPH, ABTS)

Limitations

• EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength) not reported in the abstract
• Sample size and statistical details not reported in the abstract
• Findings are family- and age-dependent, limiting generalizability

{
    "study_type": "other",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "seed treatment",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "2 min"
    },
    "population": "Norway spruce (Picea abies) seedlings from ten half-sib families (one-year-old and two-year-old)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Emergence rate",
        "Growth parameters",
        "Antioxidant enzyme activity in needles (CAT, APX, POX, GR, SOD)",
        "Radical scavenging activity (DPPH, ABTS)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Seed treatment effects depended strongly on genetic family. In one-year-old seedlings, EMF (2 min) increased CAT, APX, POX, and GR activity in the 577 half-sib family, while similar increases in the 477 family were induced by 2 min cold plasma. In two-year-old seedlings, 1 min cold plasma increased CAT, APX, POX, GR, SOD, DPPH, and ABTS activity in the 457 family, but no significant impact of 1 min cold plasma was found in one-year-old seedlings of that family.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength) not reported in the abstract",
        "Sample size and statistical details not reported in the abstract",
        "Findings are family- and age-dependent, limiting generalizability"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.66000000000000003108624468950438313186168670654296875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "cold plasma",
        "electromagnetic field",
        "seed treatment",
        "Norway spruce",
        "Picea abies",
        "half-sib families",
        "antioxidant enzymes",
        "CAT",
        "APX",
        "POX",
        "GR",
        "SOD",
        "DPPH",
        "ABTS",
        "seedlings"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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