CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS AND HARVEST SYSTEM ON PHYSIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF JACARANDA SEEDS

The characteristics of the collected fruits and its harvest system depend on the studied specie. These parameters must be well established to obtaining seeds with maximum germination and vigor. The objective of this study was to determinate the fruit characteristics and harvest system more favorable to physiological quality of Jacaranda cuspidifolia Mart. seeds, collecting during two years fruits from trees (green closed, brown closed and brown opened), and brown fruits on floor. Seeds were extracted, cleaned, and had evaluated the moisture content, germination and vigor (first counting of the germination test, seedling shoot and root growth and percentage of seedling emergence). Best physiological quality of jacaranda seeds was obtained with the harvest of brown fruits, opened or closed, on the trees with moisture content lower than 24.4%.