Plant-attacking bacteria blitzed with new ‘electric plasma’ solution
Photo: Fotolia
A unique system for destroying bacteria attacking plants with the help of plasma has been developed at the University of Gdańsk and Wrocław University of Science and Technology.
Bacteria attack not only humans and animals, but also plants, causing huge losses in agriculture and horticulture.
Now scientists from the Department of Plant Protection and Biotechnology of the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of the University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk and from the Department of Analytical Chemistry and Chemical Metallurgy of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Wrocław University of Science and Technology have come up with a solution.
The researchers have developed a solution of inorganic salts that activates under the influence of plasma and destroys pathogenic bacteria that threaten crops and ornamental plants. Activation is achieved in a flow device, in which a low-power electrical discharge occurs. Long-lived, bactericidal, active forms of oxygen and nitrogen form in the solution flowing through this system.
The solution can then be applied to crops (fruit, seeds, tubers, roots) and decorative plants, for example by spraying, fogging or irrigation.
The liquid contains the necessary elements taken in nature by the plant, which at the same time support it.
The idea called 'Method of eradication of bacterial phytopathogens' received special mention in the seventh edition of the Dziennik Gazeta Prawna competition 'Eureka! DGP - Discovering Polish Inventions'.
In the competion, universities, research institutes and scientific units of the Polish Academy of Sciences presented inventions submitted to the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland in 2017 and 2018.
PAP - Science in Poland
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