Tabebuia roseo-alba (Bignoniaceae) is a late secondary tree species native to Brazil, important for ornamental, medicinal and wood purposes. Seeds of this species with 21.9% moisture content and 56.5% germination were submitted to drying in lyophilizer, dry chamber and forced air oven. After drying, seed moisture content was reduced to 3.7, 4.0 and 11.7%, and germination percentage to 49.0, 44.7 and 45.5%, respectively. Lyophilized seeds were packed in impermeable containers and non-lyophilized seeds were packed in both permeable and impermeable containers. After packaging, seeds were stored under room, dry chamber and cold chamber conditions. Seed germination percentage (germinative capacity) was periodically evaluated up to 300 days of storage. During storage, the seeds had a behavior of those classified as orthodox. Seeds stored at laboratory room temperature deteriorated rapidly. The lyophilized seeds conserved their germinative capacity when stored in cold chambers. Seeds dried in dry chambers packed in permeable and impermeable containers and those dried in ovens packed in permeable containers maintained the germinative capacity when stored in dry and cold chambers.
forestry seed; packaging; container; storage; germination
