An application of dielectric barrier discharge treatment to control gray mold growth on cut rose flowers

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma irradiation is an efficient method for decontaminating fruits and vegetables. The present study evaluates the effect of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) cold plasma treatment on controlling gray mold (Botrytis cinerea Pers.), a destructive pathogen of cut roses (Rosa hybrida L. cv. Samurai). The ion leakage, relative water content (RWC), proline, chlorophyll, carotenoid, anthocyanin content, and discoloration of treated rose petals were measured. Experimental observation showed significant changes in ion leakage, RWC, and chlorophyll content at 20 kV for 8 min compared to the control. The same treatment induced significant changes in the proline content of the rose petals, but no statistical difference was observed in their anthocyanin and carotenoid contents compared to the control. The results indicated that gray mold growth was entirely suppressed by plasma irradiation at 20 kV for 4, 6, and 8 min and 15 kV for 8 min. Plasma at 10 kV for 8 min and 15 kV for 6 min suppressed 90% and 70% of the gray mold growth, respectively. It is noteworthy that plasma irradiation at 20 kV for just 4 min and at 15 kV for 6 min suppressed 100 and 70% of B. cinerea growth, respectively; however, plasma irradiation did not change the quality indices of rose petals. Overall, it can be said that cold plasma treatment by DBD has the potential to increase the shelf life of cut roses by suppressing gray mold development.