The long pepper is considered a promising species because of offering the prospect of making Brazil self-sufficient in the production of safrole, an important essential oil used as a fixative for fragrances and having therapeutic properties. In establishing areas intended for the cultivation of this species, it is necessary to evaluate the physiological quality of the seeds used in the production of seedlings. The objective was to determine the conditions of temperature and luminosity for the test of germination and vigor in seeds of the long-pepper. Seeds from four different lots were used to make the following measurements: moisture content (105 ± 3 ºC for 24 hours), germination (20; 25; 30 and 35 ºC with photoperiods of 12 and 24 hours, and alternating between 20-30 ºC and 20-35 ºC with 12 hours of light at the higher temperature), speed of germination index, speed of germination, seedling dry matter, seedling emergence, emergence rate index and relative frequency of germination. The experimental design was completely randomized with averages being compared by the Tukey test (P<0.05). The germination of long-pepper seeds can be assessed at 25 ºC with 12h darkness - 12 h light, 25 ºC with 24 h darkness, 30 ºC with 12 h darkness - 12 h light and 30 ºC with 24 h light, and the physiological potential at 30 ºC with 24 h light.
Long pepper; Physiological potential; Forest seed
