low energy electrons

1. Welcome
To
Credit Seminar – SST891(0+1)
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
Department of Seed Science & Technology
Hridya V Rejeendran
2016801804
II Ph. D Scholar (SST)
Chairman:
Dr. P. Geetharani
Professor (SST)

2. Electron treatment on seed

3. Introduction
Electron beam processing (EBP)
principle and mechanism
Application of EBP on seed
Advantages
Case studies
Conclusion and future prospects
Contents

4. Introduction
Seed treatment
: An important component of integrated pest
management system, acceptable environmentally
and economically for reducing damage from
insects and diseases, and for promoting uniform
stand establishment and seedling vigour.
Chemical seed treatment
Dry treatment
Wet treatment
• Dry treatment : The insecticide/fungicide is mixed with seeds inside a
device similar to a concrete mixer with two degrees of rotating
movement, to get a better mixture.
• Wet treatment: Chemical solutions are applied by pulverization or
immersion. Zago & Paulo, 2007

5. Seed production: State of the art
SEED TREATMENT – WHY?
• Killing of pathogens  Increase
of germination rate, emergence,
yield
• Seed treatment: strengthening in
most sensible phase (germination)
CHEMICAL SEED DRESSING
• Well established  Worldwide
marketing, sale and service
• Overall protection is possible
(Soil- and seed- born pathogens)
• Low investment, expensive
production
André Weidauer, 2017

6. Negatives of chemical seed dressing
Waste products in water and soil.
Very expensive registration and permission procedure for new
products.
Year by year less chemicals are allowed to use.
Drifting of dressing agents.
Development of resistant pathogens.
However this method does not eliminate the pathogens inside
the seed and does not avoid infestation of microorganism
presented in the soil.

7. DEMAND FOR ALTERNATIVES!!!
• Biologicals (Fungus, Bacteria, biological fertilizers)
• Physical Treatments (Hot Steam, Hot Water, Microwaves, UV,
Plasma, Electrons)
Electron beam seed
treatment
The penetration power of
the electron beam
depends on the intensity
of the electrical field in
which it is accelerated.
Due to this characteristic, German researches have built
accelerators that permit by controlling the accelerating field the
adjustment of the electrons penetration power to not overpass
the seed shell that normally ranges from 0.025mm to 0.5mm.

8. Cont..
The interaction of the radiation with
the product is adjusted to occur only
in the seed shell where the
undesirable microorganisms are
present, preserving the inner part and
the embrionary properties.

9. Biocidal effect – Direct & Indirect

10. How does it works
Basics: Penetration depth
Calculation of acceleration voltage, depending on
--- Seed shell thickness and density
--- Distance to emitter
Calculation of current, depending on Aimed dose
Sitton et al., 1995
Testa and Pericarp

11. Methodology
Accelerated electrons are characterized by their kinetic energy. When these
electrons penetrate matter, they are acting by losing their energy through
collision processes.
Once the energy is spent, they do not penetrate further into the material. This
fact is used to control the sphere of action of electron treatment precisely.
Apply an even dose on all sides of the individual seed grains. Electrons only
penetrate into the seed coat far from the embryo and the endosperm to avoid
genetic changes.
Harmful organisms hit by a sufficient dose of accelerated electrons will be
killed or inactivated.

12. No pathogens on the seed and in the seed
shell.
Electrons have interacted in the seed
shell.
No changed DNA in the seed embryo.
No influence of electrons on growing
plant.
Eat and feed the germinated plant
products.

13. Seed treatment with low - energy
electrons (eventus)
• Modular, compact, economically efficient and powerful seed
treatment machines with throughputs between 5 and 15
tons/hour
• One source for all-side treatment electron ring source

14.  Requirements from the market
• Modularity (Mobile or stationary use)
• Cereals: 11 kg/h
• Vegetables: 2.5 kg/h
• Power consumption < 26 kW (400 V, 63 A)
• Fully automated process and documentation

15. Application at seed
Acceleration of
electrons.
Gapping and singling
of seed.
All-over exposure
by electrons.
Disinfection of
complete surface.
Penetration of episperm
by electrons with precise
depth control.
Embryo keeps untouched.

16. Advantages - Exposure of seeds to
electron treatment leads to:
Ends their dormancy and accelerate germination rate.
Improves crop growth and destroys seed borne fungi and
insects.
Ultimately increase yield.
The metabolism in seedlings is stimulated; respiration and
hydrolytic enzymes activity is intensified.
A greater percentage of treated seed sprout sooner than
untreated seeds.
It is also possible to increase the power of germination of old
seeds.

17. Environmental Impact
It is a physical process without use of chemicals ;
It does not use dangerous substances normally used with other
processes;
It does not contaminate the soil and water resources ; it does
not produce hazardous waste;
In case of excess production of seed, it can used to feed
animal, once it is not an hazardous waste;

18. No ingestion of chemicals plant agents by animals with the
seeds;
It presents an excellent phytosanitary effect which will provide
good production yield;
The pathogens do not develop resistance as it can occur when
chemical products are used, interfering in the local
biodiversity;
It does not affect Natural Enemies (pathogens and plagues
biological control agents) that are agricultural-friendly insects
and microorganisms which are incident during the beginning
of planting process.

19. Studies on different crops

20. Effect of seed maturity on sensitivity of seeds
towards physical sanitation treatments
• Location : Netherlands
• Crop : B. oleracea & D. carota
• Cultivar : Azur-Star, Nantaise
• Treatment : Hot water, Aerated steam and Electron treatments
Groot et al., 2008Seed Sci. & Technol.

21. Effect of physical seed sanitation treatments on subsequent seedling
quality of maturity-sorted seeds B. oleracea (Azur-Star) and
D. carota (Nantaise).
–●– non-sorted –■– less-mature –▲– medium-mature –◆– full-mature
u
33 - 40
μm
9 - 15
μm

22. • Location : Netherlands
• Crop : B. oleracea , D. carota and A. cepa
• Treatment : non-pre-treated (control), humidification, hydro-
primed subjected to Hot water, Aerated steam and Electron
treatments.
Effect of the activation of germination processes
on the sensitivity of seeds towards physical
sanitation treatments
Groot et al., 2008Seed Sci. & Technol.

23. Frequency of normal seedlings after electron beam treatments with seeds that had
received a pre-treatment (◊ non-pre-treated control, humidification, Δ hydro-primed).
Error bars indicate standard deviation.

24. Evaluation of non-chemical seed treatment
methods for control of Alternaria brassicicola on
cabbage seeds
• Location : Sweden
• Crop : Cabbage
• Treatment : Thiram, Aerated steam, electron, hot water,
BA2552, K3, thyme oil, ASI + BA2552, AS1+ K3, EL 1+ BA,
EL 1+ K3, EL 1+ thyme oil, HW+BA 2552, HW+K3 and
HW2+ thyme oil.
Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection Tahsein et al., 2011

25. Effect of selected single and combination seed treatments on
plant establishment against Alternaria brassicicola

26. • Location : Germany
• Crop : Carrot
• Treatment : Thiram, Aerated steam, electron, hot water,
BA2552, Milsana, Mycostop mix, KI 726, MF 416.
Evaluation of non-chemical seed treatment
methods for the control of Alternaria dauci and
A. radicina on carrot seeds
Eckhard et al., 2010Eur J Plant Pathol.
Resistance inducers/plant-derived products, commercial microbial
products and experimental microbial preparations.

27. Effect of selected seed treatments on germination a and
percentage of carrot seeds infected with Alternaria dauci b

28. Electron beam irradiation effects on pathogenicity of
Teliospores of Tilletia controversa and T. tritici
• Location : Washington
• Crop : Wheat
• Treatment : Electron beam (0 – 10.2 kGy)
Sitton et al., 1995Journal of Plant disease

30. Assessment of the Potential for Listeria monocytogenes
Survival and Growth during Alfalfa Sprout Production
and Use of Electron beam as a Potential Intervention
Treatment
• Location : USA
• Crop : Alfalfa
• Treatment : Electron beam irradiation of 1.5, 3.3, or 5.3 kGy
Nicholas et al., 2002Journal of Food Protection

31. Change in microbial •flora as alfalfa seeds, inoculated on day 0 with 10 ml of a three-
strain cocktail of Listeria monocytogenes (log 5 CFU), are sprouted for 5 days, packaged,
and refrigerated at 580C for 9 days. Counts on nutrient agar, Palcam, and E. coli/coliform
Petri. lm (PF) plates: red colonies with gas (PF with gas) and red colonies without gas (PF
without gas).

32. Change in microbial •flora of alfalfa sprouts inoculated with Listeria
monocytogenes (5.7 log CFU/g); subjected to electron treatment at 1.5, 3.3, or
5.3 kGy; and stored at 580C for 9 days. Counts on nutrient agar and Palcam
for each irradiation dose level.

33. Microbial quality assessment and pathogen
inactivation by electron beam and gamma
irradiation of commercial seed sprouts
Waje et al., 2009Food Control

34. Effect of electron beam irradiation on the quality
characteristics of an economically valued
tropical legume Mucuna pruriens L. dc
Electronic Journal of Environmental,
Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Rajeev & Sridhar, 2008

35. Incidence of fungi isolated from Mucuna seeds exposed
to electron beam irradiation

36. Changes in the crude protein (g/100g) in non-irradiated and
irradiated Mucuna seeds exposed to electron beam irradiation

37. Reduction in total fungi and pathogenic moulds (Aspergillus
flavus, A. niger and Fusarium sp.) in electron beam irradiated
Mucuna seeds

38. Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and
Plasma Technology FEP Winterbergstr. 28 01277 Dresden / Germany

39. WESENITZ II (since 1999)
ELBA 60-1 (1987)
Pilot plant
WESENITZ 1
(1995)
ELBA 50 (1983)

40. Conclusion
In the environmental managing sector this technology
presents meaningful advantages when compared with the usual
technology in the country which still uses chemical products for
seeds disinfection. It will become up as an available technology
when the limits imposed by environmental regulations (2015) for
the use of hazardous chemicals products in agriculture will take
effect.

41. Electrons are a versatile tool for numerous applications in all fields
of industry.
Beside the known and well established processes in medicine and
pharma, the electron treatment of seed became more and more
important.
The reason for this behaviour is a non-selective effect of physical
treatment methods. Thereby the treatment is able to eliminate all
pathogens on and inside the seed coat.
No temperature rise of seed during treatment.
No formation of resistant pathogens, contrary to chemical agent
treatment.
Treated seed is long term storable without degradation.
No danger to users and environment by chemical dust.

42. Future prospects
 Increasing infection stress of plants at ecological farming
without effective treatment solutions.
 Cancelations of chemical agent licences for seed treatment
caused by environmental damages.
 Resistance problems caused by long term using of chemical
agents, marginal new agent development / agent licences.
 Increasing infection stress by bacteriological and viral
pathogens at seed without effective treatment methods.

43. Thank you for your attention