Plasma application in agriculture: seed treatment with plasma as an alternative method for increasing plant productivity

Prof. Vida Mildažienė

Interdisciplinary collaboration between research groups with complementary expertise (plant biology/biochemistry in Lithuania and plasma physics/biology in Germany) has been established, the basis for joint writing and submission of international grant proposals dealing with the application of plasma in agriculture was built.

All tasks of the project: (1) starting and establishing the collaboration between both institutions; (2) exchange of knowledge and expertise; (3) building basis for future joint research projects were achieved.

1.Meeting/workshop was organized on-line on 10th December 2020 between the partnering institutions: INP in Greifswald, and VMU in Kaunas, instead of two exchange visits. During the seminar (1) all members of the partnering groups were introduced to each other; the performed experimental research results were achieved and discussed; the experience, ideas and the detailed information on the available research infrastructure relevant for future joint research was shared between partners. Two public on-line lectures were given in the webinar on 12 November, 2020 by the project team leaders Dr. Henrike Brust and prof. Vida Mildaziene on the topic Plasma in Agriculture; the files of these lectures are available here.

2.Networking. Partners extended international networking by sharing their already existing collaboration networks in the Plasma agriculture area. Both partners since the 6th October, 2020 are involved in the COST activity CA19110 „Plasma applications for smart and sustainable agriculture“ and plan to continue further collaboration in the nearest future.

Direct: 30 scientists and students involved in Plasma in agriculture research

Indirect: 55 scientists, students, and citizens (broad public): 55 attended on-line the public webinar. This number can be increased unlimitedly due to the availability of public lectures on-line.