Promising and innovative eco-friendly method for seed sterilization (L4-70176)

Project Leader: Dr Nina Recek (Jozef Stefan Institute)

Slovenian health care was put to the test when the pandemic began in early spring 2020. Although government measures slowed down the spread of the virus, which bought time for reorganizing public health care, the pandemic still claimed too many victims. One of the first measures was the mandatory use of protective masks. Disposable medical masks reliably capture most viruses in exhaled or inhaled air but do not inactivate them.

An innovative method for seed sterilization is proposed. The research will be conducted in collaboration with four complementary groups: a public research institute, the Biotechnical faculty, the largest Slovenian seed producer, Inerkorn Ltd., and the company Elvez Ltd. The innovative method will rely on the release of highly reactive oxidizing species upon interaction between the vector and the biological matter (seeds). The vector delivering highly oxidizing species to germs (fungi and bacteria) will be an inorganic acid that is stable in a limited range of conditions but decomposes spontaneously at conditions useful for seed treatment. The highly reactive oxidizing radicals formed upon interaction with the seeds will rapidly inactivate germs. The preliminary results provided proof of concept, as we achieved sterility after less than a minute of exposure to the vector solution at a concentration of 10 ppm. We shall first determine the range of parameters suitable for the synthesis of the inorganic acid. Then, we shall measure the inactivation curves for selected fungi most relevant to the contamination of corn seeds. We shall elaborate on the method for spraying the water solution containing the appropriate vector concentration onto the seeds in a semi-continuous mode using our professional seed treatment device. Once the technique is verified, we shall treat batches of seeds, and the project partner, Interkorn, will sow them in the fields. As control samples, corn treated according to traditional seed preparation methods before sowing will be sown in the fields. We shall monitor the plants’ development from germination to harvest.