The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect or drying seeds of Virola surinamensis upon germination, before and after storage. Seeds were submmited to drying processes at 50°C during 0, 15, 60, 90, 120 and 300 minutes, conditioned in poliethylene bag and stored at 22°C and 53% R.H. Besides the normal control, another one was added without drying, and kept in water inside poliethylene bags. Germination and moisture content were monitored immediately after drying (before storage) and four months after storage. The viability of seeds was maintained after desiccation from 0 to 120 minutes, germination being higher at 60 minutes. The best treatment after four months was the control, kept in water, in plastic bags, confirming the traditional experience of the field worker and obviating, the characteristic of being recalcitrant seed.