Seed quality development in sumauma (Ceiba pentandra [L.] Gaertn.)

Seed quality development was studied in the tropical tree sumauma (Ceiba pe niandra [L.] Gaertn.) in Amazonia. The onset of ability to germinate and to tolerate desiccation to 4% moisture content was detected 5d after mass mat urity (MM, defined as the end of the seed-filling phase), when seed moistur e content was 51% (f.wt basis), and as fruit and seed colour changed from g reen to grey and from yellow to black to dark brown, respectively. Maximum seed quality (assessed by ability to tolerate desiccation to 4% moisture co ntent, subsequent seedling growth, and subsequent seed longevity in hermeti c storage at 40 +/- 0.5 degreesC with 15 +/- 0.2% moisture content) was max imal in seeds from all fruits collected 13d later (18d after MM) when matur ation drying had reduced seed moisture content naturally to 20% and as frui ts began to be shed from the tree. Seed quality did not decline over the su bsequent 31d within fruits that remained on the tree. We conclude that high quality sumauma seeds can be obtained by collecting fruits at the end of t he seed maturation drying phase shortly before the fruits are shed from the tree. The results provide further evidence that the widely-quoted hypothes is that seed quality is maximal at the end of the seed filling-phase and th at viability and vigour decline thereafter is incorrect.