The objective of this study was to determine the effect of accelerated aging and storage conditions on the physiological quality of Hovenia dulcis seeds. Six accelerated aging times (0, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours) were evaluated with four replications. The storage was studied in a 2 x 7 factorial scheme, with two storage conditions (laboratory room and refrigerator) and seven storage times (0, 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 weeks), with four replications. The accelerated aging was performed at 45ºC, and the storage was done in the laboratory room and in the refrigerator at 4 to 7ºC and relative humidity of 40 to 50%, both in darkness. The analyzed variables were: germination percentage, germination velocity index (GVI), average germination time (AGT), average germination velocity (AGV) and entropy. The accelerated aging until 120 hours increased the physiological quality of Hovenia dulcis seeds. The storage of seeds for up to 40 weeks can be done in the laboratory room.
Hovenia dulcis; entropy; germination
