Killing the teliospores of tilletia controversa Kuhn (TCK) with atmospheric microwave plasma

Summary form only given as follows. Sterilization of foodstuffs by microwave plasma may be an efficient, environmental-friendly method, but the plasma needed cannot be attained easily. With the proprietary cavity of atmospheric microwave plasma called APMPS+JET, we have been able to gain the atmospheric microwave plasma of the gas mixture (air and argon), by which the teliospores of Tilletia controversa Kuhn (TCK) were treated. These samples were seeded on pieces of cover glasses and then exposed in the APMPS+JET for less than 0.5 second. After the short time treatment, the teliospores were then observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), which showed that the teliospores were broken into pieces. The various factors, such as the UV, the heat, the microwaves, the high-voltage, the high-speed particles and the activated particles, were then discussed and the experimental results showed that the high-speed moving particles and the activated particles might play an active role in the teliospore-plasma interaction. These treatment results support the potential for use of the microwave cavity as a treatment of foodstuffs for pathogen reduction. Besides, this application can be useful to the food packaging industry, the medical industry, and others.