Desiccation tolerance and storage at a sub-zero temperature of <i>Butia odorata</i> seeds

Abstract

Butia odorata (Barb. Rodr.) Noblick is an important regional genetic resource, however its commercial propagation is difficult by the shortage of plant breeding information and seedling formation. The objective of the study was to characterize the physiological behavior of B. odorata seeds by desiccation and conservation at different temperatures followed by viability analyses for further physiological classification. Mature fruits of B. odorata were collected and depulped. For desiccation, the diaspores were dried whole in an oven with a constant temperature 30 ºC for 24 hours. The storage was carried out in negative temperature with the diaspores packed in a polyethylene bag. At the end of each period, a new water content determination and the viability test were performed. It can be inferred that B. odorata seeds have orthodox behavior because they presented the viability index above 90% with a water content of 6.14% and storage at sub-zero temperature. In addition, viability was maintained around 70% after storage with negative temperature and 5% humidity for 32 months.