Study of Some Genetic Indicators Using Some Physical Agents to Reduce the Microbial Content of Wheat Seeds Stored in Silo Nineveh Government
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Abstract
This is the first report on the effectiveness of hot air, UV-C and cold plasma treatment for the decontamination of wheat seeds (Dinka) obtained from a commercial silo in Nineveh governorate. Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas sp., Staphylococcus sp., and total bacterial CFU g⁻¹ (microbial load) 1.5 g of food sample was placed in 13 mL of 0.1% peptone water and homogenized for 2 min at 230 rpm in Stomacher (400, Seward Medical, London, England). qPCR quantification (16S rRNA and ITS copy number), seed germination, and expression of wheat stress/defense marker genes (PR1, PR5), as well as DNA-damage indicator (Comet assay metrics), were assessed before and after treatment. There was a significant reduction in all treatments, with the highest reduction in total culturable bacteria being for cold plasma (≈ 95% reduction), together with high germinability (= 91% vs. UV‐C and hot‐air treatments reduced microbial load (ca. 80 and 70%, respectively), but the former caused less decrease in germination. Temporary activation of defense genes was suggested by gene-expression profiles following treatments; DNA damage did not exceed limits allowable for seed viability except for treatments at high temperatures. Guidelines for silo-scale implementation and monitoring are given.
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