Good news! This seems to be a very clever approach!
"... For instance, the nutrient solution that is used to feed the plants can easily become contaminated with pathogens like E. coli. To prevent this from happening, growers can use chemicals or simply replace the contaminated solution — but this is wasteful and impractical. In the new study, researchers turned to a surprising ally to help disinfect the crops: plasma. ...
For their research, the team created low-temperature plasma, using a conventional plasma generator.
... Essentially, the methods target an amino acid called tryptophan commonly used in fertilizers. Tryptophan is very useful in plant development and is regularly used in fertilizers to enhance plant growth and stress resistance. It’s also used as a precursor in the production of natural compounds with antimicrobial properties, offering a sustainable approach to managing plant health and yield.
When the amino acid is irradiated, the plasma electrons generate unstable oxygen particles. These go on to produce unstable tryptophan particles. The plants can still use these particles, but the pathogens can’t. Essentially, this starves E. coli while not affecting the plants ...""A group led by researchers ... has developed a disinfection technology that uses low-temperature plasma generated by electricity to cultivate environmentally friendly hydroponically grown crops. This innovative technology sterilizes the crops, promoting plant growth without the use of chemical fertilizers. ..."
From the highlights and abstract:
"Highlights
• Irradiation of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) solutions with electrically neutral atomic oxygen produces immediate bactericidal activity.
• Kynurenine and N’-formylkynurenine were identified as irradiation products in the solution.
• Tryptophan radicals (Trp•) are precursors of the oxygen radical irradiation of the solution.
• The bactericidal effect is mediated by central carbon metabolism via enzyme deactivation in E. coli.
Abstract
Organic fertilizers are useful in hydroponic agriculture to bring about a sustainable society with minimal pollution. Irradiation of l-tryptophan (l-Trp) solutions with electrically neutral atomic oxygen produces immediate bactericidal activity. After oxygen radical irradiation of an l-Trp-containing Escherichia coli suspension at pH 6.3 for 5 min, a colony-forming unit assay showed a 6-log reduction in the number of surviving E. coli. Kynurenine and N’-formylkynurenine were identified as irradiation products in the solution using liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Tryptophan radicals (Trp•) are precursors of kynurenine and N’-formylkynurenine and are detected using spin-trap electron spin resonance. The bactericidal effect is mediated by central carbon metabolism via enzyme deactivation in E. coli. Enzymatic deactivation via the oxygen radical irradiation of a solution containing the amino acid l-Trp eventually resulted in bacterial death."
Graphical abstract
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