Doctoral Thesis
Cold plasma inhibits Fusarium graminearum growth in vitro but does not translate to field-contaminated grain
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Murdoch University
2023
Abstract
Postharvest fungal contaminants have significant economic impacts on cereal grain production globally. Chemical and physical treatments are commonly used management practices to reduce postharvest cereal grain contaminants. However, chemicals may leave harmful residues, and physical treatments may alter grain quality. This thesis investigated the potential of cold plasma to reduce contamination of wheat grain by Fusarium graminearum, a mycotoxic fungal pathogen known to cause Fusarium head blight disease or head scab in cereals globally.
Cold plasma is an ionised gas containing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, electrons and free radicals that have antifungal properties and can detoxify mycotoxins. This thesis aimed to develop an optimised protocol for cold plasma treatment of F. graminearum in vitro, for wheat grain inoculated with F. graminearum, and for F. graminearum and its mycotoxins in field infested grain. The quality properties of treated grain were also assessed.
The growth rate of four F. graminearum isolates in vitro and when inoculated on wheat grain was significantly reduced after cold plasma treatment using a Blown-Arc surface treater. However, the abundance of Fusarium species on field infested grain was unchanged after the postharvest treatment, and there was no reduction in the grain’s natural fungal diversity. Mycotoxin concentrations decreased after a 60 s postharvest Blown-Arc plasma treatment but increased following a 180s treatment. Treated grain germinated faster in the laboratory but this was not observed in treated grain sown in the field. Blown-Arc plasma had no impact on total yield or milling properties.
In conclusion, although Blown-Arc plasma showed promise for control of F. graminearum in vitro, it was not effective on field infested grain, nor did it consistently reduce mycotoxins in the grain, however it did not alter grain germination, yield, or quality. Further research is required to improve the effectiveness of Blown-arc plasma for treating Fusarium-infested or mycotoxin contaminated grain.
Details
- Title
- Cold plasma inhibits Fusarium graminearum growth in vitro but does not translate to field-contaminated grain
- Authors/Creators
- Maninder Kaur
- Contributors
- Kirsty Bayliss (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, Centre for Biosecurity and One Health
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Identifiers
- 991005593763707891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Agricultural Sciences
- Resource Type
- Doctoral Thesis
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