Physiological quality of Ocimum selloi Benth. seeds under conditions of light, temperature and storage time

"Atroveran" or "elixir-paregorico" ( Ocimum selloi Benth.) is a Brazilian species that produces an essential oil rich in methyl chavicol. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of light, temperature and time of storage in different environments on the germination and vigor of O. selloi seeds. We initially tested the influence of presence and absence of white light in a 12-hour photoperiod to determine the photoblastism of the seeds under different temperatures ( 20, 25, 30 and 35 degrees C). The physiological quality of seeds conserved under two temperatures ( room temperature and cold chamber) was tested at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 10 and 12 months of storage. The species was classified as neutral photoblastic with germination at a wide temperature range ( 20 degrees C-30 degrees C). Germination was maintained for twelve months of storage in cold chamber at room temperature, but the vigor was reduced in seeds kept at room temperature after the sixth month of storage.