Plasma treatment to inactivate seed-borne pathogens is topic of new FTPP webinar

The use of atmospheric pressure plasma treatment to inactivate seed-borne pathogens is the topic of a new webinar that’s part of a bimonthly series called Tomorrow’s PSE Leaders, sponsored by Alabama’s Future Technologies & enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP) project.

Plasma is a highly-energized gas that is ubiquitous in space and on Earth. It is used in a wide variety of scientific, agricultural and manufacturing pursuits.

Dr. Manjula Bomma’s presentation is titled “Assessment of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma for Inactivating the Seed-borne Pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria on bell pepper seeds.”

Dr. Bomma is a part-time postdoctoral researcher and adjunct faculty at Alabama A&M University (AAMU), where she earned her doctorate in microbiology in 2019. Dr. Bomma’s early academic journey began in India, where she earned a master’s degree in botany and another in education and psychology. Her husband Chakrpani Siddi encouraged her to pursue her dream of earning a doctorate in the United States.

During her doctoral and postdoctoral journey, she has been mentored at AAMU by Dr. Florence Okafor, professor of microbiology, and Dr. Rao Mentreddy, professor of crop science/agronomy. Dr. Bomma has been at AAMU since 2014 and is actively engaged in research and teaching.

plasma treatment

“I investigate the use of atmospheric pressure plasma treatment to inactivate seed-borne pathogens in bell pepper seeds, specifically targeting Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria, the causative agent of bacterial leaf spot,” she says.

Additionally, she plans to discuss synthesis of nanoparticles using biological agents and the antimicrobial properties of basil leaf extracts.

“My studies compare various basil species and their extracts, and explore advanced methods for nanoparticle production using genetically transformed E. coli,” says Dr. Bomma.

Her work spans several critical areas in microbiology, with a strong emphasis on the antibacterial properties of medicinal plants and has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications, contributing to sustainable and impactful microbiological solutions.

“I have extensively worked on the synthesis of nanoparticles and their applications in molecular biology, including gene transformation techniques,” she says. “I focus on developing environmentally friendly and biologically enhanced methods for nanoparticle synthesis, which have demonstrated strong antibacterial activity and addressed concerns related to heavy metal toxicity.”

In the presentation, Dr. Bomma highlights key findings from her research publications and explains the fundamental principles of plasma states and their applications in microbiology, supported by comparative analyses of treated and untreated bacterial cells, including growth reduction data and scanning electron microscopy images.

ftpp funding

An Alabama coalition of nine universities and a research corporation supported by a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation and managed at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), FTPP aims to transition plasma research into agricultural, manufacturing, space science, space weather prediction and other applications, establishing Alabama as a Southeastern regional hub for plasma science expertise and creating thousands of high-paying technical careers in the state and region.

FTPP funding has expanded Dr. Bomma’s recent research interests into the field of low-temperature plasma, particularly its environmentally friendly nature and promising applications in microbiology, she says. She plans to continue advancing the innovative applications of FTPP in microbial control and biotechnology to contribute to sustainable agricultural and food safety practices.

“As a microbiologist working at the forefront of FTPP research, I want to continue learning, exploring and applying these technologies while mentoring undergraduate and high school students in scientific research,” says Dr. Bomma. “This innovative technology offers sustainable, non-chemical approaches to microbial control, especially in plant and food safety. I am enthusiastic about exploring its potential further in biotechnology.”