The aim of this work was to establish a methodology for seed storage of Poncirus trifoliata, that is the main citrus rootstock in Rio Grande do Sul. The pre-treatments evaluated were: a) chemical - Benomyl (1,5 g a.i. kg-1 of seeds); b) thermal/chemical - water immersion at 52ºC for 10 minutes, following application of Benomyl (1,5 g a.i. kg-1 of seeds). The storage conditions were: a) environment - storage in dark room under not controlled temperature and air moisture; b) Refrigerator - 8ºC and 60% of air moisture; c) dissector not controlled temperature and 16% of air moisture; d) dissector in refrigerator - 8ºC and 16% of air moisture; e) Cold chamber - 4ºC and 70% of air moisture. The 'Trifoliata' seeds are recalcitrants, because they are highly sensible to storage. It was not observed effect of pre-treatments for seed conservation. The storage in cold chamber was the best treatment, maintaining 57,1% of seed viability during 150 days.
cold chamber; dissector; refrigerator; rootstock; chemical treatment; thermal treatment
