Electrophoresis has been used to aid the evaluation of physiological seed quality of forest species, as isozymes provide fast responses. Seeds of copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii) were artificially aged for 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, in a germination chamber (42º C and 100% UR). The objective of this research was to evaluate possible changes in the electrophoretic patterns of proteins and isozymes during the artificial aging. The artificial aging reduced the germination and vigor of C. langsdorffii seeds, but vigor was affected faster than germination. The electrophoretic patterns showed no difference in the content of soluble and storage proteins, but for esterase and peroxidase isozymes there was reduction in the activity with aging.
Seed germination; artificial aging; electrophoresis; Copaifera langsdorffii
