TREATMENT AND STORAGE OF EUGENIA-CALYCINA SEEDS

Some trials were carried out to test the longevity of E. calycina seed s after harvest, the effect of seed treatment and storage environment on seed quality and incidence of fungi. The root and shoot emission st arted at 10 and 16 days after sow, respectively, and extended for a pe riod of 8-20 days. Recently-harvested seeds showed around 97% of germi nation, which dropped quickly when stored in laboratory. The speed of germination also dropped during storage. It was concluded that this sp ecies has recalcitrant seeds, which have to be sowed quickly after har vest. If seeds have to be stored for some days they should be kept ins ide the fruits or in a hermetic package at a temperature around 10-deg rees-C to avoid desiccation. This way, around 50% of seed viability wa s observed after 28 days in storage, while the viability of seeds stor ed in paper bags dropped to zero after 21 days in storage. The treatme nt of seeds with Thiram or Thiabendazole reduced the incidence of sapr ophytic fungi, but did not affect the final germination of seeds. Sodi um hypochlorite did not affect the incidence of fungi and seed germina tion. Smaller and perforated seeds showed lower germination, indicatin g that selection before planting is necessary.