Viability of Brazilwood seeds (<i>Caesalpinia echinata</i>
               Lam.) stored at room temperature in controlled atmospheres

Seed storage at room temperature is an important and low-cost tool for ex situ conservation. However, the high rates of seed deterioration could reduce the potential for storage in this condition. Therefore, the knowledge of the suitable water content for this type of storage plays a critical role. This study aimed to assess the time required to stabilize the relative humidity (RH) in sealed flasks with saturated salt solutions, with or without the introduction of seeds of Caesalpinia echinata, as well as to assess the viability of these seeds stored in environments with different hygroscopic equilibrium. The results showed that 2 and about 12 days are needed to stabilize the RH, respectively, without or with the seeds. The amount of saturated salt solutions in this airtight environment influences both the speed to equilibrate the RH and the final values of the RH. Seeds of Caesalpinia echinata tolerate drying up to 5% water content (wet basis); however, the viability of these seeds at room temperature is maintained for short periods even at low water content.

storage; hygroscopic equilibrium; desiccation tolerance

Authorship

Nestor Martini Neto

Instituto de Botânica, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sementes, Caixa Postal, 68041, 04301012 - São Paulo, SP, Brasil.Instituto de BotânicaBrasilSão Paulo, SP, BrasilInstituto de Botânica, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Sementes, Caixa Postal, 68041, 04301012 - São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Claudio José Barbedo ^**Corresponding author< claudio.barbedo@pesquisador.cnpq.br>

*Corresponding author< claudio.barbedo@pesquisador.cnpq.br>

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Figures | Tables

Figures (4)
Tables (3)

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Figure 1
Relative humidity (open symbols) and water potential (filled symbols) of the sealed air chambers, empty, at 25 °C in salt solutions containing KCl (A), NaCl (B), NaNO₂ (C) and CaBr₂ (D) in the ratios of 7.8.10^-3 (◊); 1.6.10^-2 (□); 3.1.10^-2 (Δ) and 6.2.10^-2 (o), over 48 hours of incubation.

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Figure 2
Relative humidity (open symbols) and water potential (filled symbols) of the airtight air chambers at 25 °C containing salt solutions of KCl (A), NaCl (B), NaNO₂ (C) and CaBr₂ (D) at the ratios of 7.8.10^-3 (◊); 1.6.10^-2 (□); 3.1.10^-2 (Δ) and 6.2.10^-2 (o), over 48 hours of incubation after addition of 50 seeds of Caesalpinia echinata with 32% of water (-15 MPa).

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Figure 3
Frequency distribution of viable (white), deteriorated (gray) and dead (black) tissued obtained in the tetrazolium test of seeds of Caesalpinia echinata Lam. in control (A) or stored for 15, 45 and 75 days in a sealed environment in a controlled atmosphere by saturated salt solutions of Zn(NO₃)₂(B), CaCl₂ (C), CaBr₂ (D), by silica gel beads (E) and ZnCl₂ (F).

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Figure 4
Classes of seeds of C. echinata in the tetrazolium test (A to L) and types of development in the germination test (M to P). A: viable and vigorous seed; B: seed with tissue deterioration in the distal area of the cotyledon; C: seed with deteriorating tissues throughout the proximal area of the cotyledon; D: seed with deteriorating tissues in all the cotyledon and dead tissues in the insertion area of the cotyledons to the axis; E and F: seeds with dead tissues in the proximal area of the cotyledon; G and H: seeds with dead tissues throughout the proximal area of the cotyledon; I: seed with dead tissues in the insertion area of the axis to the cotyledon; J and K: seeds with dead tissues in the distal area of the cotyledon; L: seed with dead tissues in the proximal area of the cotyledon; M: seed with primary root protrusion; N: normal seedling development; O and P: development of abnormal seedlings. Scale of 1 cm.

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Table 1
Seed water content and water potential (-MPa) of embryo and seed coat of Caesalpinia echinata Lam. seeds after moisture equilibrium in an atmosphere controlled by saturated salt solutions.

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Table 2
Water content of Caesalpinia echinata Lam. seeds incubated in airtight flasks with saturated salt solutions, stored for 45 and 75 days.

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Table 3
Germination and germinated seeds (%) of Caesalpinia echinata stored for 15, 45 or 75 days at 25 °C in airtight flasks containing silica gel or saturated salt solutions.

Figure 1 Relative humidity (open symbols) and water potential (filled symbols) of the sealed air chambers, empty, at 25 °C in salt solutions containing KCl (A), NaCl (B), NaNO₂ (C) and CaBr₂ (D) in the ratios of 7.8.10^-3 (◊); 1.6.10^-2 (□); 3.1.10^-2 (Δ) and 6.2.10^-2 (o), over 48 hours of incubation.

Figure 2 Relative humidity (open symbols) and water potential (filled symbols) of the airtight air chambers at 25 °C containing salt solutions of KCl (A), NaCl (B), NaNO₂ (C) and CaBr₂ (D) at the ratios of 7.8.10^-3 (◊); 1.6.10^-2 (□); 3.1.10^-2 (Δ) and 6.2.10^-2 (o), over 48 hours of incubation after addition of 50 seeds of Caesalpinia echinata with 32% of water (-15 MPa).

Figure 3 Frequency distribution of viable (white), deteriorated (gray) and dead (black) tissued obtained in the tetrazolium test of seeds of Caesalpinia echinata Lam. in control (A) or stored for 15, 45 and 75 days in a sealed environment in a controlled atmosphere by saturated salt solutions of Zn(NO₃)₂(B), CaCl₂ (C), CaBr₂ (D), by silica gel beads (E) and ZnCl₂ (F).

Figure 4 Classes of seeds of C. echinata in the tetrazolium test (A to L) and types of development in the germination test (M to P). A: viable and vigorous seed; B: seed with tissue deterioration in the distal area of the cotyledon; C: seed with deteriorating tissues throughout the proximal area of the cotyledon; D: seed with deteriorating tissues in all the cotyledon and dead tissues in the insertion area of the cotyledons to the axis; E and F: seeds with dead tissues in the proximal area of the cotyledon; G and H: seeds with dead tissues throughout the proximal area of the cotyledon; I: seed with dead tissues in the insertion area of the axis to the cotyledon; J and K: seeds with dead tissues in the distal area of the cotyledon; L: seed with dead tissues in the proximal area of the cotyledon; M: seed with primary root protrusion; N: normal seedling development; O and P: development of abnormal seedlings. Scale of 1 cm.

Table 1 Seed water content and water potential (-MPa) of embryo and seed coat of Caesalpinia echinata Lam. seeds after moisture equilibrium in an atmosphere controlled by saturated salt solutions.

^*
Means followed by the same letter in columns do not differ by Tukey test at 5%.

Table 2 Water content of Caesalpinia echinata Lam. seeds incubated in airtight flasks with saturated salt solutions, stored for 45 and 75 days.

^*
Means followed by the same letter (lowercase in columns, uppercase in rows) do not differ by Tukey test at 5%.

Table 3 Germination and germinated seeds (%) of Caesalpinia echinata stored for 15, 45 or 75 days at 25 °C in airtight flasks containing silica gel or saturated salt solutions.

^*
Means followed by the same letter (lowercase comparing storage periods, uppercase letters comparing storage environment) do not differ by Tukey test at 5%.

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Viability of Brazilwood seeds (<i>Caesalpinia echinata</i> Lam.) stored at room temperature in controlled atmospheres

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[1] *Corresponding author< claudio.barbedo@pesquisador.cnpq.br>