Zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.) seedlings were transplanted to four 10x1 m beds. Twenty days
later they were pinched in order to induce branching increasing the number of flowers. Each inflorescence
was identified in the day of its respective anthesis. The treatments were constituted by four intervals of
seed harvest, which were 20, 30, 40 and 50 days after anthesis (DAA). The following parameters were
evaluated: seed moisture content, dry matter accumulation, germination (germination test) and germination
speed (emergency speed and first score). The greatest seed dry weight was observed at 38 DAA, although
after this period germination and emergency speed still increasead, attaining it?s maximum values at 50
DAA. These results contradict the hipothesis that seed presents maximum quality at the end of the seedfilling
period and that seed germination and vigour decline immediately after this period.