Oxygen plasma modulates glucosinolate levels without affecting lipid contents and composition in Brassica napus seeds

Rapeseed contains high levels of glucosinolates (GSLs), playing pivotal roles in defense against herbivores and pests. As their presence in rapeseed reduces the value of the meal for animal feeding, intensive efforts to reduce them produced low-seed GSL cultivars. However, there is no such variety suitable for the south part of Japan. Here, we tested the effects of cold oxygen plasma (oxygen CP) on seed germination and GSL and lipid content, in three rapeseed cultivars. According to the cultivars, oxygen CP slightly stimulated seed germination and modified the GSL levels; decreased GSL levels in Westar and Kizakinonatane but increased those in Nanashikibu. In contrast, it negligibly affected the lipid content and composition in the three cultivars. Thus, oxygen CP modulated seed GSL levels without affecting seed viability and lipid content. Future optimization of this technique may help optimize rapeseed GSL content without plant breeding.

Plasma-assisted defect engineering of N-doped NiCo2O4 for efficient oxygen reduction

Defect control is a promising way to enhance the electrocatalysis performance of metal oxide. Oxygen vacancies enriched NiCo2O4 were successfully prepared by cold plasma. Oxygen as plasma-forming gas also can...