Effect of plasma-activated water on chlorophyll retention in detached Tejpat (Cinnamomum tamala) leaves

Abstract

In this work, the atmospheric pressure air gliding arc discharge has been produced for the generation of plasma-activated water (PAW) and studying its effect on the chlorophyll retention and greenness of Tejpat (Cinnamomum tamala) leaves. The discharge is characterized via electrical and optical methods to calculate the electron excitation temperature (1.38 eV) and density (3.46×1017 cm−3) of the plasma. The influence of plasma exposure time on the physico-chemical properties of PAW and the aging effect of electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, oxidation-reduction potential, and concentration of nitrite and nitrate are presented. It is found that the modification in physico-chemical properties of water has a considerable effect on chlorophyll retention and the greenness of detached leaves. The chlorophyll retention is highest for the leaves that are treated with 12 minutes of PAW as compared to the other plasma exposure time as well as untreated water. Moreover, the greenness of leaves for 12 minutes of plasma treatment remains for a longer duration (576±34 hrs) as compared to treatment times of 0, 4, 8, and 16 minutes due to prolonged activeness of the physical parameters. This work is significant in that PAW plays an important role in maintaining greenness in detached green leaves.

Keywords

• Aging effect
• Atmospheric pressure plasma
• Physico-chemical properties
• Chlorophyll retention
• Greenness of leaf