Seeds undergo physical, biological and physiological changes during their maturation process until reaching the ideal harvest time, presenting maximum germination capacity and vigor. The objective of this work was to identify the most favorable harvest stage and substratum for seed germination and seedling growth of Tabebuia chrysotricha. Fruit of T. chrysotricha were harvested from 16 matrix trees at Lageado Farm, Botucatu-SP, Brazil, at four harvest stages: smaller closed fruit, larger closed fruit, open starting fruit, and opened fruit with dispersal starting seeds. The harvests stages were characterized by color of fruits and seeds, width, thickness and length of fruits and water content of seeds. The effect of the harvest stage on seed quality was evaluated by germination test carried out on sand and paper, at 25ºC, final count performed 21 days after sowing, and vigor by the first count of germination test (7th day) and seedling length (at 21 days). The results showed that T. chrysotricha seeds must be harvested when fruit start to open; this particular harvest stage could also be identified by the water content of seeds (59.6%); and that sand substratum was more favorable to seed germination and seedling growth than paper.
Tabebuia chrysotricha; harvest time; substratum
