PHYSIOLOGICAL MATURATION OF Pterogyne nitens Tul. SEEDS

NELSON MOREIRA DE CARVALHO; JOÃO FARIAS DE SOUZA FILHO; TAIS TOSTES GRAZIANO; IVOR BERGEMANN DE AGUIAR

 

The physiological maturation of Pterogyne nitens Tul. seeds was studied at Jaboticabal (SP, Brazil) from a flowering that took place on February 20/80. The beginning of visible development of the seeds was verified to occur a month later. During the next month, the seeds grew rapidly, keeping a high moisture content: between 70 and 80%. The ability to germinate was first observed at the beginning of the third month; a week later (April, 30) it had reached values within the maximum range. According with the data obtained it would be possible therefore to harvesf seeds of this species of the highest possible quality beginning between the end of April and the beginning of May. At this time, seed moisture content would be between 60 and 65% and even if this moisture would make mandatory a rapid and efficient drying of the seeds it would represent a decrease of the seeds lost by fruit shedding.



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