PHYSIOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF JENIPAPO SEEDS STORED IN DIFFERENT PACKAGES

Seed storage through the reduction of its water content is an important strategy for the conservation of many plant species, but some, such as the jenipapo, are susceptible to desiccation, which may lead to loss of viability and even death, in case its water content is reduced to a critical level. The aim of this work was to evaluate the interference of different packaging conditions in the conservation of the physiological potential of jenipapo seeds stored for 105 days. Specifically, this research sought to analyze the feasibility of the use of vacuum conditions and the coating of the seed with biofilm. The evaluated treatments were: storage in paper bag, plastic bag, plastic with vacuum, plastic with seeds coated with biofilm and plastic with seeds with biofilm and vacuum condition for 15, 45, 75 and 105 days, besides the control. Seeds with biofilm were treated with cassava starch at 3% of the mass to volume ratio. The following tests were performed: water content, germination, germination speed, aerial part and root lengths, wet and dry mass of the aerial part and root. It was concluded that plastic packaging, vacuum condition and biofilm coating are not recommended for storage of jenipapo seeds. Storage in paper bags, when at 24 degrees C and with 65% relative humidity for 46 days, is capable of conserving the seeds of jenipapo with germination of 60%.