Guabijuzeiro is a woody plant and occurs in Brazil, from the states of São Paulo until Rio Grande do Sul. Guabijuzeiro seeds are susceptible to dissection and present short longevity. The aim of this wotk was to evaluate the physiological quality of seeds throughout the course of eight months under cold chamber storage (5±1 ºC and 80% RM). Seeds collected from six different plants, from Encruzilhada do Sul and Cachoeira do Sul districts in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, were evaluated in relation to moisture content, mass of 1000 seeds, germination, mean time to germination, emergence and mean time to emergence. Until the third month of storage, viability was higher than 50% and seeds from three progenies presented viability up to 75%. Low variation in moisture content (40 to 45%) was recorded during storage. The quality of the seeds from all origins decreased under storage, however after eight months, 56 to 61% of the seeds from two progenies remained viable. Thus, it is possible to extend longevity of guabijuzeiro seeds by means of cold chamber storage.
Myrcianthes pungens; Seeds and Germination
