Effect of Microwave Plasma on Sterilization of Acidovorax citrulli Infected Watermelon Seeds

Abstract

This study was conducted to check the sterilization efficacy of microwave plasma (MWP) against the watermelon seeds infected with Acidovorax citrulli 11-251. Watermelon seeds were artificially vacuum inoculated to produce A. citrulli 11-251 infected seeds. Aac ImmunoStrip and scanning electron microscope (SEM) results suggests that, seeds (coat and endosperm) were infected under the concentration of 1×107/30 min. MWP sterlization process was carried out at 50 W (3 min, 5 min, and 10 min), 80 W (3 min, 5 min, and 10 min), and 100 W (3 min, 5 min, and 10 min). According to the results, MWP sterilized the artificially inoculated seed coats by 95.96% at 80 W/10 min and seed endosperms by 100% at 100 W/10 min respectively. Although, seeds were sterlized by MWP, germination rate of seeds were low as compared to non treated (negative control) seeds. Moreover, cell membrane of A. citrulli 11-251 was damaged while observed in SEM after sterilized with MWP. Further studies regarding the appropriate sterilization condition by MWP against A. citrulli infected seeds for germination will be conducted in our next study.

Keywords

• acidovorax citrulli
• bacterial fruit blotch
• plasma
• sterilization
• vacuum inoculation