Copaifera langsdorffii is a threatened species that presents seeds with multiple dormancy and low resistance to storage. Thus, it is interesting to know if the seeds lose viability from the physiological maturity point and if they resist to desiccation during the storage period. Four experiments were conducted using seeds from the Araguari River Valley, MG (matrix 1, July and matrix 2, August 2005). Two of them had newly-collected seeds and the other two used seeds stored in cold chamber. The loss of 31% of water from the seeds collected from the soil in relation to the seeds collected from the tree reduced the percentage of emergence in about 10%. The presence of aril increased the value of the coefficient of variation of the emergence, indicating the presence of germination inhibitors in this part of the seeds. The seeds had lost viability after storage, reducing significantly the percentages of emergence. This characteristic indicates that seeds of this species have some degree of recalcitrance. To obtain a high number of seedlings in short time, with high synchrony, seeds collected from newly-opened fruits, directly of the tree, without aril, and scarified are recommended.
Copaíba; recalcitrance; storage
