Plasma-Treated Water Induces Protein Oxidation in Mung Bean (Vigna radiata) and Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Seedlings

Abstract

Plasma-treated water (PTW) is a promising sustainable agricultural resource, yet its effects on seedling proteins remain unclear. This study quantified how plasma‑derived reactive oxygen and nitrogen species modify proteins and influence early growth in chickpea and mung bean. Growth responses were species- and exposure-dependent (n = 3): irrigation with PTW generated after 5 min of plasma exposure enhanced chickpea root growth, while 1-min PTW stimulated mung bean root elongation (p < 0.05); however, longer exposures inhibited mung bean growth. Protein oxidation products analysis quantified o-tyrosine, m-tyrosine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, dityrosine, dioxindolyl-L-alanine isomers, and 3-hydroxykynurenine. PTW irrigation increased some essential amino acids in chickpea seedlings, with methionine rising up to 75% compared to the control (p < 0.05), and smaller increases in lysine and arginine contents.