Sementes recalcitrantes: Intolerantes a baixas temperaturas? Embriões recalcitrantes de Inga vera Willd. subsp. affinis (DC.) T. D. Penn. toleram temperatura sub-zero

Abstract

Recalcitrant seeds are intolerant to both desiccation and low temperatures, the most important mechanisms of seed conservation, consequently their storage is difficult. Inga vera subsp. affinis produces the so-called recalcitrant seeds, since they do not survive to water content lower than 35%. In this work it is demonstrated that these seeds are tolerant to temperatures as low as -2 °C. Embryos of I. vera of different stages of maturity were stored at temperatures varying from 8 to -18 °C for until 45 days. Non-dried embryos and both dried to -4 MPa and -6 MPa were stored. Results showed that, despite all embryos died at -18 °C, some cold tolerance was obtained by mature embryos when stored at -2 °C, as long as they are dried to -4 MPa.