This experiment was carried out in a multistratum system in Manaus Amazonas with the purpose to study the growth and maturation of annato fruits and seeds (Bixa orellana L.) cultivated in this system. At the maxim blooming stage about 1.500 flowers were marked. From this stage on, 45 fruits were picked at random once a week. This was done until the fruits reached the maturation stage, totalizing 12 collections. A detailed description was made of the fruit development stage in every collection. The fruit and seed dry matter, fruit length and diameter and seed length, diameter, moisture, viability and vigor were also determined. The annato seed begins to germinate on the 62nd day after anthesis, when it attains 62.5% maximum dry matter. About the growth of the seeds related to the dry matter a sigmoid behavior was observed, with its three distinct phases, reaching a maximum dry matter value on the 76th day after anthesis. In this phase, the seeds reached the maximum germination and vigor stage, and the fruits were turning from reddish to yellowish hues and seeds had lilac colored chalazae part and brown funiculum, which characterizes physiological maturation.
Bixa orellana; agroforestry system; physiological quality
