Enhancement of Growth, Enzymes, Nutrition and Yield of Eggplant: Combined Effects of Plasma Treatments

Eggplant ( Solanum melangena L.) seeds were treated with low pressure dielectric barrier air discharge plasma for the duration of 2 , 4 , 6 and 8 min in order to determine the condition of maximum seed germination rate with the plasma system used. Among the treatment conditions considered herein, 6 min treatment period provided the maximum seed germination rate of ∼ 80 % , where as it was ∼ 46 % for control. Further, PAWs were foliar sprayed to the plants grown from the control and 2 , 4 , 6 and 8 min treated seeds. Growth parameters along with the concentrations of antioxidant activities, total phenolic content (TPC), total soluble sugar (TSS) and protein (TSP) and mineral contents were determined. The results reveal that the plant growth parameters, antioxidant activities, TPC, TSS, TSP, and mineral concentrations of Ca , Cu , Fe , Mn , and K are increased, Zn is only reduced with respect to control. The results obtained in this experiment may provide a way for sustainable agriculture for eggplants instead of vulnerable traditional one.