  Tap water, demineralized water and liquid fertilizer have been activated
using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) to investigate their benefits
for the germination rate and stem elongation rate of lentils from Puy-en-Velay
(France). By plasma-activating tap water, we have obtained germination rates as
high as 80% (instead of 30% with tap water). Also, higher stem elongation rates
and final stem lengths were obtained using activated tap water compared with
commercial fertilizer. We show that these rates of germination and stem growth
strongly depend on the combination of two radicals generated in the liquids by
the plasma: hydrogen peroxide and nitrate. This synergy appears to be a
condition for releasing seed dormancy through the endogenous production of NO
radicals.
