To provide a discharge sterilization method capable of securing safety for workers who perform a sterilization work easily, preventing reduction of a commercial value of fruits being a sterilization object and achieving sufficient sterilization processing, without complicating and increasing a size of a structure of a sterilization device.SOLUTION: At least one of first and second electrodes 11, 13 which face each other sandwiching a space 25 on which sterilization objects 20 such as fruits are arranged, therebetween, is covered with a solid dielectric 12, and a pulse or AC voltage is applied to a space between electrodes 11, 13 by a power source 14. By generating barrier discharge, energy generated by discharge is radiated to the vicinity of a sterilization object region 20a, thereby acquiring a sterilization effect. Since ozone with high density is not generated, safety for workers can be easily secured. A plurality of needle-shaped protrusions are arranged on the first electrode 11, for promoting local electric field concentration and achieving induction of discharge even at a relatively low voltage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1【課題】殺菌装置の構造の複雑化や大型化を招くことなく、殺菌の作業に従事する作業者の安全確保を容易にすると共に、殺菌対象の果実等の商品価値の低下を防止しつつ十分な殺菌処理を可能にすること。【解決手段】果実などの殺菌対象物２０を配置する空間２５を挟んで、対向配置した第１電極１１、第２電極１３の少なくとも一方を固体誘電体１２で覆い、電源１４でパルス又は交流電圧を電極１１、１３間に印加する。バリア放電を発生させて、放電により発生するエネルギーを殺菌対象領域２０ａの近傍に照射する。これにより殺菌効果が得られる。高濃度のオゾン発生を伴わないので、作業者の安全確保が容易になる。複数の針状の突起を第１電極１１に配置することにより、局部的な電界集中が促進され、比較的低電圧でも放電の誘起が可能になる。【選択図】図１
