Mechanisms and long-term consequences of microbiome changes after plasma exposure

Investigate the mechanisms governing microbial persistence or elimination following cold atmospheric plasma exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana seeds and assess the long-term consequences of the resulting seedling fungal-microbiota changes for plant development and health.

Background

The study finds that CAP treatment alters fungal communities associated with developing Arabidopsis seedlings, with effects depending on ecotype and seed batch. The authors do not establish why some fungal taxa persist while others disappear, nor whether the observed microbiome changes influence plant performance beyond early seedling establishment. They explicitly identify both the underlying mechanisms and the long-term effects on plant development and health as subjects for future investigation.