Storage Potential of Local Brazilian Pine Seed Varieties

ABSTRACT Brazilian pine seeds (Araucaria angustifolia) are recalcitrant, and there are no studies evaluating the longevity of their different varieties. Our objective was to evaluate the capacity of different varieties of Brazilian pine seeds to maintain their physiological quality during storage. Seeds of the varieties: sancti josephi (I), angustifolia (II), caiova (III) and indehiscens (IV) were collected from two populations located in Santa Catarina, and stored under laboratory conditions and in a cold room for 90 days. On average, freshly harvested seeds showed 88% viability, and varieties II and III maintained the greatest viability (with the greatest vigor for variety II) after 90 days in storage. Varieties I and II maintained their pre-germinative metabolism for a longer period than the other varieties during storage. Therefore, seeds from the angustifolia variety (II) have higher storage potential than the other varieties, maintaining approximately 61% viability at 90 days of storage.