The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of age and post-harvest storage period of tomato fruits (Kada cv, Santa Cruz group) on seed quality. Fruits were harvested at 40, 50 and 60 DAA and stored for 0, 4, 8 and 12 days before seed extraction. The seeds were fermented for two days at 25ºC to remove the mucilage. The following characteristics were evaluated: seed moisture and dry matter content, standard germination, first count, speed emergence index, accelerated aging and electrical conductivity. The post-harvest storage of fruits harvested at 60 DAA reduced the seed quality. For the fruits harvested at 50 DAA, 8 days-storage contributed to increasing the speed of emergence. Early harvest (40 DAA) was beneficial to physiological seed quality, when related to post harvest fruit storage for 12 days.
Lycopersicon esculentum; vigor; maturation
