The dessication tolerance of four seed lots of spineless pejibaye (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) harvested at Yurimaguas (Peru); Camamu and Piraí do Norte (Bahia State, Brazil) and Pindorama (São Paulo State, Brazil) was identified. The seeds were dried in a drying chamber starting with undried controls. Samples were drawn every 24 hours. Dessication effects were evaluated by means of germination test (until 184 days, vermiculite, 20-30ºC), germination first counting (36 days), germination speed and seed water content. It was verified that seeds from that species are susceptible to dehydration, with higher initial germination percentage (59 to 84%) when undried (47 to 38% of water content). Water contents lower than 28 to 23% reduced significantly seed germination and vigor. All seeds died when the seed water content was lower than 15% (seed lots 2 and 4) and 13% (seed lots 1 and 3).
Bactris gasipaes; peach palm; seed deterioration; recalcitrance; critical water content; lethal water content
