This study was conducted to determine the physiological quality of carambola seeds convectively dried at 38 ºC, at the end of germination tests in paper rolls and lasting 84 days. Seed storability using two types of packaging, water vapour permeable and impermeable, under two storage conditions, ambient at 25 ºC and 61% relative humidity, and inside a 10 ºC refrigerated chamber with relative humidity of 82%, was also assessed for periods of 90 and 180 days. Mean germination percentage of fresh seeds was 87%. The results obtained through germination testing showed that carambola seeds can be stored for 90 or 180 days at 10 ºC, or for 90 days at ambient conditions, in vacuum-sealed packaging, without impairing their physiological quality. Seeds may also be stored for 90 days in water vapour-permeable packaging under refrigeration. Vigour estimated through the germination speed index and the mean time of germination was consistently higher for seeds stored in vacuum-sealed packaging, irrespective of storage time and temperature.
Averrhoa carambola; germination; vigour indices; packaging
