Effects of cold plasma treatment on the development and physiological performance of Eucalyptus maidenii from...

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cold plasma treatment on the germination, seedling growth, sapling development, and physiological responses of Eucalyptus maidenii seeds, and to identify an optimal treatment combination. By integrating germination tests, seedling cultivation experiments, and sapling growth assessments, the study explored both growth performance and underlying physiological mechanisms.The results showed that cold plasma treatment generally promoted seed germination and improved seed vigor. It also enhanced seedling morphological traits and photosynthetic performance, indicating a positive effect on early growth. During the sapling stage, cold plasma treatment further improved several growth characteristics and influenced key physiological and metabolic parameters, including photosynthetic enzyme activity, osmotic regulation substances, chlorophyll accumulation, and oxidative stress indicators. These findings suggest that appropriate cold plasma treatment can stimulate growth not only at the germination stage, but also throughout subsequent seedling and sapling development. Comprehensive evaluation using the TOPSIS model identified S14 (150 W, 2 n, 15 s, 2 d) as the optimal treatment. Overall, appropriate cold plasma treatment can effectively enhance the germination rate of seeds, the growth of seedlings and saplings, as well as their photosynthetic and antioxidant capabilities of Eucalyptus maidenii, showing promising potential for seed enhancement and nursery production.