Effect of Sequential Treatment with Cold Atmospheric Plasma and Gamma Irradiation on Phenotypic Variability in Melon (Cucumis melo L.)
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Abstract
This study examined the effects of sequential treatment using cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and gamma irradiation on phenotypic variability in melon (Cucumis melo L.). Gamma irradiation was delivered from a Co-60 source at 200 Gy, while CAP was generated by a gliding arc plasma system (15 W, air, 4 L/min, 2 min). Treatments included single exposures and two sequences: plasma followed by gamma (PG) and gamma followed by plasma (GP). Seed germination was monitored using continuous X-ray imaging for 38 h, and morphological and physiological traits were evaluated at 7 13 and 16 days after planting. Spectroscopic characterization of the plasma confirmed the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in the gas phase, which were associated with oxidative processes and cellular responses in plant seeds. X-ray imaging during germination for 38 h, along with assessments of seedling morphology and physiology, showed that single treatments (P and G) and gamma irradiation followed by plasma (GP) generally promoted plant growth. Conversely, sequential treatments, particularly plasma followed by gamma irradiation (PG), resulted in the greatest phenotypic variability. Increased data variability was observed in plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, and leaf width across these treatments, while physiological parameters remained unaffected. These results suggest that plasma-generated reactive oxygen and nitrogen species may enhance oxidative and cellular responses before gamma irradiation, leading to synergistic genetic damage mechanisms between the two methods. The sequential combined treatment, particularly plasma treatment followed by gamma irradiation (PG), is therefore a promising approach for increasing variability in plant height and stem diameter, thereby enhancing the opportunity to obtain diverse traits for plant breeding. In contrast, single treatments or gamma irradiation followed by plasma treatment (GP) were more suitable for promoting plant growth during the early seedling stage.
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