Plasma treatment alleviates seed dormancy and enhances early seedling growth in Albizia julibrissin

Seed dormancy caused by a water-impermeable seed coat limits the germination of Albizia julibrissin , an important agroforestry species. This study tested non-thermal plasma (NTP) as an eco-friendly method to break physical dormancy and improve early growth. Seeds were treated with corona-discharge NTP for 1.25–40 minutes and evaluated for surface changes, wettability, water uptake, germination and seedling performance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed progressive surface cleaning and microstructural modification with longer exposure, while energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS) detected no changes in elemental composition. NTP significantly reduced water contact angle and increased imbibition, indicating enhanced hydrophilicity. Germination increased from nearly 10% in control seeds to nearly 90% after 40 minutes, accompanied by a notably faster germination. Seedling length, biomass and vigour indices improved significantly at longer treatments (20–40 minutes), whereas short exposures had no significant effect. Overall, NTP effectively alleviates physical dormancy in A. julibrissin through non-destructive surface activation, improving water uptake, accelerating germination and enhancing early seedling growth. The results highlight NTP as a promising sustainable technology for seed treatment in agroforestry and ecological restoration.