Inactivation mechanism of Penicillium digitatum using atmospheric pressure plasma

We discussed the inactivation mechanism of Penicillium digitatum treated by nonequiribrium atmospheric pressure plasma. We focused on the ozone, ultraviolet radiation, O radical, and OH radical as inactivation factor. The diagnostics of non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma was performed by optical emission spectroscopy and ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy. It is confirmed that the effects of ozone and ultraviolet radiation were not dominant for the inactivation of P. digitatum. Results from experiments on the O₂ gas and water vapor addition showed that the contribution of the reactive oxygen species such as OH radical, O radical and their byproduct would be larger.