Seeds of ?quaresminha? (Miconia candolleana Trian.), a Brazilian woody species, were imbibed for 168 hours. Samples were taken dayly to determine water content. Other samples were dried to their original weight and germinated. In another test, seeds were germinated in water or in solutions of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6,000), mannitol or calcium chloride at concentrations of - 0.1, - 0.3, and - 0.5 MPa. The - 0,5 concentration was also used to further test gennination after pre-imbibition in water for 168 hours. In a following test, seeds were stored at 5 and 20°C for 15 and 30 days, after a pre-imbibition of 120 and 144 hours. In general, more negative water potencial resulted in greater reduction of germination than did saline stress. The opposite happened when negative water potential moves toward positive. The pre-imbibition of seeds increased the speed of germination, being dependent on the time of preimbibition. The stimulation was reduced when the seeds were pre-imbibed for 120 and 144 hours and stored at 5°C or at 20°C. Seeds pre-imbibed in water increased in germination capacity even when placed at negative water potential (- 0.5 MP).