With the objective of using the hypochlorite of sodium in the development of a new test to evaluate quickly the quality of the coffee tree seeds, through the estimate of the germination, the present work was accomplished being used four portions of coffee tree seeds (Coffea arabica L.) cv. IAC Catuaí 44 and four portions of cv. Rubi. The percentage of germination of the seeds was estimated by the developed test, denominated LERCAFE, in two methodologies. In the method 1, the seeds had its parchment removed manually and soon after they were immersed in solution of hypochlorite of sodium to 2,5%, where they stayed for 3 hours. After that, the seeds were washed and later evaluated visually. In the method 2, the seeds with parchment were immersed in hypochlorite of sodium to 5,0% for a period of 6 hours and the seeds that were submitted to this method were washed and immersed in distilled water by 40 minutes and later appraised. Like this, in the visual evaluation of the seeds, were considered non-germinated the seeds that presented formation of greenish coloration in the embryonic area and the seeds that didn't present visible embryo; the quality of the portions was also characterized by the germination test. The two methods of the LERCAFE test presented increase correlations with the germination test. The use of the LERCAFE test in the fast evaluation of the seeds of coffee, has a low cost and an easy execution and interpretation, allowing estimate accurately and with quickness the potential of germination of the coffee tree seeds, besides presenting non destructive characteristics, favoring the evaluation of seedlings deriving from the tested seeds.
viability; exsudate; Coffea arabica
