Stimulation of the germination and seedling growth of Cuminum cyminum L. seeds by cold plasma

Cuminum cyminum is an annual and herbaceous plant with medicinal and aromatic properties belonging to the Apiaceae family. Reactive nitrogen and oxygen species present in cold plasma have significant influence on seed germination and seedling growth. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of plasma at different exposure time on germination percentage and growth parameters of cumin seeds. Seed germination was enhanced by 43.24 % with amplified vigor index and dry weight at 3 min (2 kV) cold plasma exposure, whereas 15.5%, 41.79 %, and 34.5 % increment in total chlorophyll content, root, and shoot length respectively was also obtained when compared with control. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) analysis of discharge plasma justified the positive influence of specific reactive species on physiological changes in cumin seeds. Thus, cold plasma could be promising technique to enhance the germination of medicinal and aromatic seeds.