Plasma-activated water regulates rhizosphere microbiota for Fusarium crown rot control and sustainable wheat production

Plasma-activated water (PAW) irrigation is an eco-friendly option for plant soil-borne disease control, but its efficacy against wheat Fusarium crown rot (FCR) remains unclear. Herein, PAW was evaluated under curative, inoculum pre-treatment, and preventive strategies. In vitro, PAW-3 completely inhibited fungal spore germination and mycelial growth via inducing oxidative damage and cellular leakage. In pot trials, curative PAW-2 significantly reduced disease index by 38.5%, increased plant height and shoot biomass by 11% and 19.3%, respectively, and enhanced soil nitrate nitrogen content (about 3-fold) and redox potential while maintained neutral pH. Microbiome analysis reveals that PAW-2 enriched beneficial keystone taxa such as Funneliformis and Pseudeurotium, reduced pathogen abundance, and enhanced microbial network complexity and stability. PLS-PM analysis indicated that PAW-mediated suppression of FCR was associated with antifungal activity, improved soil nitrogen and redox conditions, and enriched beneficial microbiota. These findings establish PAW as a multifunctional soil amendment for sustainable wheat production.