Cold plasma effects on plants: challenges and future in its use

In the last decade, cold plasma production has been explored for its application in environmental science, in particular in agricultural field. Plasma, an ionized gas produced at room temperature under atmospheric pressure, generates reactive species, thus stimulating physiology, biochemical and molecular processes in plants and inactivating microorganisms. For these reasons, it is a potential tool to increase plant vigor and production, and several studies have investigated plasma-induced improvements to seed germination, plant growth, development, and reproduction. Here, cold plasma effects on plants are summarized. In particular, a focus will be carried out on challenges and future in its use mainly in agriculture field.