Etching of the seed cuticle by cold plasma shortens imbibitional leakage in Linum usitatissimum L.

•Plasma etches cuticle of flax seeds and increases water uptake during germination.•Plasma treatment alters elasticity of distal walls of seed epidermal cells.•Plasma treated flax seeds show shorter imbibitional leakage time during germination.•Plasma treated flax seeds show altered mucilage extrusion mechanism.•Flax lignan macromolecule in seed coat is fragmented and exudated during germination.