The objective of this research was to verify the effects of partial drying and storage duration on the germination and vigor of three E. edulis seed lots developed under different weather conditions. Mature fruits were harvested in the palm collection from the Instituto Agronômico, located in Ubatuba, SP., forming three seed lots. Seeds from ten plants were harvested on 02/99 and constituted the Seed lot 1; seed lot 2 was composed of seeds of fifteen plants collected in 04/00, whereas seeds from eleven plants harvested on 08/00 composed seed lot 3. The fruits were depulped and the seeds were dried for 0, 20 and 40 hours, using a drying chamber regulated at 27º C of temperature and 35% of relative humidity. The seeds were stored at 10º C, in closed plastic bags (20 mm thick). During storage, seed quality was evaluated every six weeks, using the following traits: seed water content (105±3ºC/24h), germination (%) and vigor (first germination counting and index of the velocity of germination (IVG). Seed drying prior to storage decreased the seed water content in 14 - 21% of the initial values. Germination and vigor were hampered by partial drying and by the storage duration in a differential mode, and both traits depended on the climatic conditions observed during seed developing and maturation.
Euterpe edulis; conservation; heart-of-palm
