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

冷大气等离子体(CAPS)已被证明在人类和动物健康系统中具有消毒性能，在提供表面和亚表面活动的同时，使健康组织不受损害。最近，CAMP已被证明可以减少某些植物疾病，改善种子和幼苗的行为，改变种皮特性和水分吸收，从而提高苗木活力，在某些情况下提高作物产量。许多园艺作物受到种子传播疾病的不利影响，这些疾病很难用标准的杀菌剂产品来控制。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，但存在许多主要与水分不足有关的设施问题，这要么导致作物损失，要么更多地导致次优种植群体、生长不良和最终产量下降。这项可行性研究的重点将是了解如何利用上限来控制种子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)田间作物的发芽和活力，以及对作物表现的评估。可行性研究将揭示一种新的、易于使用的非化学技术改善作物表现的潜力，并为安全有效的等离子发电机组的开发创造商业机会。

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.