The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of storage temperature on the percentage of seed germination and vigor of Caesalpinia peltophoroides (Caesalpiniaceae) seeds through physiological tests. The water content increased in seeds stored at 5ºC and decreased in seeds stored at 20ºC. The percentage of germination of seeds stored at 5 and 20ºC was reduced from 220 and 120 days, respectively. The germination velocity index decreased in a similar way. The electrical conductivity was not altered on seeds stored at 5ºC and increased on those kept at 20ºC. The accelerated aging for periods of 24, 48 and 72 hours markedly reduced seed quality in both storage environments. The reduction on percentage of seed germination and vigor was grater on seeds stored at 20ºC.
Caesalpinia peltophoroides; temperature; storage; germination; vigor
