Treatment of Common Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) Seeds with Radio-frequency Electromagnetic Field and Cold Plasma Induces Changes in Seed Phytohormone Balance, Seedling Development and Leaf Protein Expression

Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 23;9(1):6437. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42893-5.

Abstract

Treatment of plant seeds with electromagnetic fields or non-thermal plasmas aims to take advantage of plant functional plasticity towards stimulation of plant agricultural performance. In this study, the effects of pre-sowing seed treatment using 200 Pa vacuum (7 min), 5.28 MHz radio-frequency cold plasma (CP -2, 5, and 7 min) and electromagnetic field (EMF -5, 10, 15 min) on seed germination kinetics, content of phytohormones, morphometric parameters of seedlings and leaf proteome were assessed. CP 7 min and EMF 15 min treatments caused 19-24% faster germination in vitro; germination in the substrate was accelerated by vacuum (9%) and EMF 15 min (17%). The stressors did not change the seed germination percentage, with exception of EMF 5 min treatment that caused a decrease by 7.5%. Meanwhile both CP 7 min and EMF 15 min treatments stimulated germination, but the EMF treatment resulted in higher weight of leaves. Stressor-specific changes in phytohormone balance were detected in seeds: vacuum treatment decreased zeatin amount by 39%; CP treatments substantially increased gibberellin content, but other effects strongly varied with the treatment duration; the abscisic acid content was reduced by 55-60% after the EMF treatment. Analysis of the proteome showed that short exposure of seeds to the EMF or CP induced a similar long-term effect on gene expression in leaves, mostly stimulating expression of proteins involved in photosynthetic processes and their regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abscisic Acid / metabolism
  • Electromagnetic Fields*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / radiation effects*
  • Gene Ontology
  • Germination / radiation effects
  • Gibberellins / metabolism
  • Helianthus / genetics*
  • Helianthus / growth & development
  • Helianthus / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Annotation
  • Plant Growth Regulators / metabolism
  • Plant Leaves / genetics*
  • Plant Leaves / growth & development
  • Plant Leaves / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / classification
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Plasma Gases
  • Proteome / classification
  • Proteome / genetics
  • Proteome / metabolism
  • Radio Waves
  • Seedlings / genetics*
  • Seedlings / growth & development
  • Seedlings / metabolism
  • Seeds / genetics
  • Seeds / growth & development
  • Seeds / metabolism
  • Seeds / radiation effects*

Substances

  • Gibberellins
  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • Plant Proteins
  • Plasma Gases
  • Proteome
  • Abscisic Acid