Sustainable agriculture with low inputs of chemicals and fertilizers has been recently attracting more attention from producers and researchers in the EU. The main reason for such attention is The European Green Deal—the EU’s latest growth strategy concerning environmental degradation and climate change. One of its main components is the Farm to Fork strategy, which especially features the reduction in pesticide and mineral fertilizer application and also supports the development of organic farming. At the same time, food demand is rising. These ambitious challenges require extensive research, development and innovation. Therefore, new non-chemical techniques for improving plant growth and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses must be explored for their potential in this field. One of the most promising is the use of non-thermal plasma for such purposes. As this physical factor is a complex mixture of ions, atoms, electrons, radicals and molecules, its effect on plants and pathogens is also complex. This review presents different aspects of the effect of non-thermal plasma on seed germination, development of seedlings, plants and pathogens. The literature was explored to provide evidence for the possible use of non-thermal plasma for boosting plant growth and plant protection.

Perennial ryegrass, despite its advantages such as high resistance to trampling or strong tillering, is a plant susceptible to abiotic and biotic stresses. The aim of the conducted work was to check the effect of Rhizophagus irregularis on increasing the perennial ryegrass resistance to infection by Drechslera teres. Grass infested with R. irregularis and uninfested were inoculated with the tested pathogen. Measurement of plant infection assessment was carried out. Additionally, the plant material was analyzed for the presence of phenolic compounds and the content and activity of enzymatic proteins. Symptoms of infection on plants infested with the endomycorrhizal fun­gus were smaller than those without the tested symbiont. The content of phenolic compounds and total protein in plants did not differ significantly. However, there were differences in the content of chitinases and β-1,3-glucanases. The results obtained from the conducted experiment confirm the beneficial effect of R. irregularis on perennial ryegrass in the fight against D. teres.