The electrical conductivity test is an excellent means to evaluate seeds physiological quality. More recently studies have been conducted to verify its aplicability to tree seeds. This study aimed establish a specific electrical conductivity methodology for Sebastiana commersoniana seeds. Three seed lots of this species were submitted to the standard germination test whereby germination percentage and speed of germination were evaluated. The factors considered for the electrical conductivity test were: soaking time (2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 48, 48, and 72 hours), number of seeds per replication (25, 50, and 75), and volume of deionized water (50, 75, and 100mL) at a constant temperature of 25ºC. Lot I seeds showed higher percentage and speed of germination in comparison to lots II and III, and these results were corroborated by the electrical conductivity test when either a combination of 2 hours of soaking time, a sample of 75 seeds and a volume of 50, 75, or 100mL of water or a combination of 50 seed sample size, a volume of 50mL of water and a soaking period of 18 hours were employed. For practical purposes a combination of a sample size of 75 seeds, a volume of 75mL of deionized water and a soaking time of 24 hours at a temperature of 25ºC is recommended for the electrical conductivity test of Sebastiana commersoniana seeds.
branquilho; vigor; forest seeds; native tree
