Prof. Kaneko: Plasma is the fourth state of matter that we humans have recognized, after solid, liquid and gas – furthermore two plasma types, “thermal” and “non-thermal,” are said to exist. Full-blown research into plasma itself was launched in the 1960s, but as an engineering research field it is even newer.

I have been studying plasma since graduate school, on the research theme of nuclear fusion plasma. I began with high-temperature plasma, but as my coverage of plasma expanded like for nanomaterial syntheses, I found new applications of plasma, like for medicine and agriculture. I endeavored to build a wall comprised of electricity for confining plasma at onset, but my work has gone beyond confinements.

Exposing strawberry crops to an atmospheric-pressure/non-thermal plasma effluent helps counter spread of pathogens without the need for pesticide application

− What effects result from exposure of plants to plasma?

Prof. Kaneko: The spread of pathogens like fungi for powdery mildew, more sinister-sounding anthracnose (unrelated to anthrax) and such was shown to have been countered fully. And no plasma residue is left on the crops. Besides the initial equipment and installation costs, monies involved were minimal. In only a few years after 2011 the germination as well as planning stages were cleared, and the project began running in earnest three years ago. In the past, research into application of plasma during seed-level and post-harvest stages had been documented, yet no research concerning exposure as to plants at the crop stage had been conducted. Though unable to predict the outcome, experimentation on living plants was taken on, and as with all experiments involving living things despite being under controlled conditions, didn't always yield consistent results. An engineering experiment fusing living things and science... we indeed faced much difficulties over the last three years. But we took on all the challenges and won.