Effect of Plasma-Activated Nutrient Solution (Pans) on Sweet Basil (O. Basilicum L.) Grown Using an Ebb and Flow Hydroponic System

Sweet basil (O. basilicum L.) growers use closed hydroponic farming systems with recirculating nutrient solution. Plasma 1 , the fourth state of matter, generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species when exposed to liquids. Plasma treated liquids can improve plant growth or reduce algae growth. In this study, Rutgers Devotion downy mildew resistant (DMR) sweet basil seeds were used to grow basil plants in an ebb and flow hydroponic system using standard nutrient solution (NS) and plasma-activated nutrient solution (PANS) 2 . Upon harvesting, the plant growth parameters (height, fresh and dry weight, number of branches and nodes, root length, leaf index), and the quality parameters (color, texture, aroma, and tissue nutrients concentration) were measured. The algae concentrations of NS and PANS solutions were also determined. Plants grown on PANS were significantly taller (up to 12%) and had a higher fresh mass (up to 29%) and dry mass (up to 45%) than plants grown on NS. The instrumental greenness of the plants grown using PANS was significantly higher (up to 28%) compared to the plants grown using NS. Algae growth was significantly reduced in PANS (up to 24%) compared to NS. This preliminary study indicated that PANS could improve the quality and growth of sweet basil in hydroponic farming, while controlling the algae growth in the growing environment