Figure 1.

Description of the mechanism of how non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma affect chicken growth. The optimal plasma treatment condition is 11.7 kV for 2 min. Representative chicken growth status on day 90 is shown. C-M represents male chickens in the control group; P-M represents male chickens in the plasma treatment group. C-F represents female chickens in the control group; P-F represents female chickens in the plasma treatment group. The antioxidant defense system-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis regulates the growth performance. DNA methylation in skeletal muscles and thyroid glands is involved in the regulation of chicken growth rate. ● represent methylated cytosine, and ○ represent unmethylated cytosine.