Behaviour of Maytenus ilicifolia seeds in different periods and storage conditions

Seeds of Maytenus ilicifolia collected on December 1993, were subsequently packed in permeable paper bags and kept for 30, 60, 90 and 120 days at envi ronmental conditions (bench top), dry chamber (15 degrees C, 45% relative h umidity) and cold chamber (5 degrees C, 85% relative humidity). Seeds humid ity, germinability, and electric conductivity were assessed monthly. Result s showed an increase in electric conductivity and a decrease in germinabili ty for three different storage conditions. The initial humidity of 41% had a significant decrease after 30 days of storage, reaching 7% in both dry ch amber and at normal environmental conditions (bench top), and reaching 21,8 % in cold chamber. The best results for germinability were observed at cold chamber, followed by dry chamber, and at environmental conditions (bench t op), with 85%, 66% and 28%, respectively after 120 days.