The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of the accelerated aging in the vigor and viability of Anadenanthera peregrina seeds. For the accelerated aging test, the seeds were conditioned in "gerbox" boxes with an aluminum screen separating the seeds from the bottom of the box. Distilled water was added into the bottom and, after that, the boxes were conditioned in aging chambers under temperatures of 40, 50 and 60ºC, during periods of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. Seeds not submitted to the aging process were used as the control. After each period the seeds were submitted to the following tests: standard germination test, germination speed index, electric conductivity, tetrazolium test, osmopriming and seedling evaluation. Under 40ºC, the percentage of germination, the IVG and the percentage of viable seeds for the tetrazolium test decreased significantly. A significant increase in the electric conductivity curve was noticed, as the period in the aging chamber increased. The seeds lost all their viability when submitted to the aging chamber from periods longer than 96 hours, as well as those submitted to temperatures of 50º and 60ºC. In the seedling evaluation, all the parameters analyzed decreased as the seeds stayed in the aging chamber for longer periods, except the percentage of abnormal seedlings and the cool weight of the root, which both increased.
Accelerated aging; Anadenanthera and Viability
