The species Tabebuia serratifolia (ipê amarelo) is used for reclamation of degraded areas, in addition it possess medicinal and timber properties. Its propagation is by seeds, which present problems of conservation, as changes in the percentage of germination throughout the storage. To investigate the possible changes in some physiological and biochemistry behaviors of "ipê-amarelo" seeds during the storage the germination, viability, vigor, protein content of resistant to heat and polyphenols were evaluated. The seeds were stored under environmental and cold chamber conditions for 12 months. Evaluations were made every 3 months. For seeds stored in cold chamber higher germination and vigor were observed as compared to the environmental condition. There were decreases in the levels of polyphenols during storage, but the heat shock proteins kept the same intensity of bands. In the environmental condition the germination becomes null on the 9th month, while in cold chamber the seeds remain viable during the 12 months of storage.
Yellow-ipe; Handroanthus serratifolius; longevity