Responses of seed vigour and germination of maize to plasma-activated water priming, silver-nanopriming and green silver-nanopriming

The application of atmospheric non-thermal plasmas and nanomaterials for seed technology is relatively new compared to their use in industrial and agricultural sectors. This study aimed to investigate the potential of plasma-activated water (PAW) priming, silver-nanopriming and green silver-nanopriming for seed performance enhancement in maize. The experiment was carried out using two lots of maize seeds with a one-year difference in age. Seed treatment procedures were priming with PAW formular 1 (PAW1), with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using PAW formular 1 (PAW1SNP), with green-AgNPs using PAW formular 1 (PAW1GSNP), with PAW formular 2 (PAW2), with AgNPs using PAW formular 2 (PAW2SNP), with green-AgNPs using PAW formular 2 (PAW2GSNP) and hydropriming with deionised water; untreated seeds were used as the control. Results showed that the best protocol for enhancing seed vigour and germination performance of maize was PAW2. Priming with PAWs, PAW1 or PAW2, has the potential to enhance the physiological quality of maize seeds, particularly new seeds. The limitations of PAW1SNP, PAW1GSNP, PAW2SNP and PAW2GSNP in seed enhancement and storability after priming treatments are discussed.