The objective of this research was to study the immediate effects of dehydration on the physiological performance of 'Cleopatra' tangerine (Citrus reticulata Blanco) seeds. Seeds were hand extracted from mature fruits, washed in running water and then drained in the shade. Following that, a representative portion of the seeds was removed so as to constitute the treatment containing the highest water content (49%) to be studied. The remaining seeds were submitted to dehydration in an equipment with forced air flow (28º±2ºC) in order to obtain the treatments (39; 32; 24; 13; 10 and 7% H2O) relative to the other moisture contents desired. Evaluations were made of the moisture level, the germination, the seedling emergence, and root, hypocotyl and seedling length. It was concluded that the physiological potential of the seeds, considering the interval of 49 to 7% moisture content, is favored by dehydration to 39% H2O.
dehydration; recalcitrant seed
