The aim of this work was to evaluate the temperature effects (10 and 24oC) and
osmotic potential (0.0 and -1.0MPa) in the imbibition curves and pre conditioning influence on
viability and vigor of canafistula seeds. The experiments were carried out with seeds treated with
sulfuric acid during 25 minutes, using four replicates of 10 or 25 seeds, for imbibition curves or
for the others experiments, respectively. The highest rate and percentage of fresh weight increase
was observed for seeds imbibed in water at 27oC, with radicle protrusion around 22 hours of
imbibition. In PEG 6000 solutions (-1.0MPa at 10 or 27oC) and water (10oC), the radicle emergence
was not observed until six days of imbibition, and only the phase II was reached. The vigor and
viability of seeds without or with pre conditioning in PEG solutions (10 and 27oC), water (10 and
27oC), was evaluated after submersion during 12, 24 and 36 hours. There was not reduction in
vigor and viability for the seeds from different treatments submersed in distilled water during 12
hours. After 36 hours submersed, the germination percentage decreased. The viability and vigor
was also evaluated after accelerated aging (100% RH and 45oC) during 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96
hours. A decrease in vigor and viability was observed after aging during 24 hours. The seeds
without any pre treatment was the more resistant to the accelerated aging. The best field performance
was observed in seeds pre imbibed in water at 10oC and the worst, in seeds primed in PEG
(-1.0MPa) at 27oC.