2019 Volume 62 Issue 6 Pages 363-368
High-voltage and plasma applications for agriculture, fishery and food processing are described in this paper. Repetitive operated compact pulsed power generators with a moderate peak power were developed for the applications in several stages of agriculture and food processing. Pulsed high-voltage produces intense high-electric field which can cause some biological effects such as stress response (stimulation) and electroporation. Types of pulsed power that also have biological effects are caused with gas and water discharges which include reactive species such as ROS and RNS. The repetitive pulse discharge was used for promoting growth of the vegetables and fruits. The growth rate of the vegetables and sugar content in the strawberry harvested after the cultivation increased by the plasma irradiation to the hydroponic solution. The leaf size of the plants increased with plasma treatment time. Number of colony forming units (CFU) of R. solanacearum in the liquid fertilizer decreased from 107 to 102 CFU/mL by the plasma treatment. Seedlings with the plasma treatment were relatively healthy ; in contrast, all seedlings in the positive control wilted and died from infection of R. solanacearum. The yielding rate of Shiitake mushroom (L. edodes) was improved with the high-voltage stimulation in fruit-body formation phase. The AC high-voltage keeping freshness for a relatively longer period of agricultural. The electrostatic effects can contribute to remove airborne bacteria and fungi spore from the storage house and container. This removal contributed to reduce the infection risk with fungi and bacteria. These applications can contribute a food supply chain in the world.
