CAPSEED - A new seed conditioning process for arable and horticultural crops.

低温大气等离子体（CAPs）已被证明在人类和动物卫生系统中具有消毒特性，提供表面和次表面活性，同时不损害健康组织。最近，cap已被证明可以减少某些植物疾病，改变种子和幼苗行为，改变种皮特性和水分吸收，从而提高幼苗活力，在某些情况下还可以提高作物产量。许多园艺作物受到种子传播病害的严重影响，这些病害是标准杀菌剂难以控制的。在广泛种植的作物中，虽然种子传播的疾病通常可以得到有效控制，但存在许多种植问题，主要与缺乏水分有关，这导致作物损失，或通常不理想的植物种群，生长不良和最终产量降低。这项可行性研究将侧重于了解如何使用cap来调节和克服其中一些问题。将讨论对比种子类型和问题，包括a)控制小种子蔬菜（芹菜、洋葱、生菜）的种子传播疾病b)促进大种子（玉米）和小种子（油菜）大田作物的发芽和活力，以及作物性能的评价。这项可行性研究将为一种新的、易于使用的、非化学的提高作物性能的技术提供潜力，并为开发安全有效的等离子体发电装置创造商业机会。

Cold atmospheric plasmas (CAPs) have been shown to have disinfectant properties in human and animal health systems,providing surface and sub-surface activity while leaving healthy tissue undamaged. Very recently, CAPs have been shownto reduce certain plant diseases, and to modify seed and seedling behaviour, altering seed coat properties and wateruptake, resulting in improved seedling vigour and, in some cases, improved crop yield. Many horticultural crops areadversely affected by seed-borne diseases which are difficult to control with standard fungicidal products. In broad-acrearable crops, while seed-borne diseases can usually be effectively controlled, there are many establishment problems,primarily associated with lack of moisture, which result in either crop loss, or more usually sub-optimal plant populations,poor growth and lower final yields. This feasibility study will focus on understanding how CAPs could be used to conditionseed and overcome some of these problems. Contrasting seed types and problems will be addressed, to include a) controlof seed-borne disease in small seeded vegetables (celery, onion, lettuce) b) promotion of germination and vigour in largeseeded (maize) and small seeded (oilseed rape) field crops, and evaluation of crop performance. The feasibility study willinform the potential for a novel, easy to use, non-chemical technique for improving crop performance, and create acommercial opportunity for the development of safe and effective plasma generating units.