Physiological quality of jatropha seeds (Jatropha curcas L.) during storage in three environments

Abstract

This work was carried out to evaluate the quality of jatropha seeds during storage at three temperatures and humidity. The experiment was conducted in Pós-colheita de Produtos Vegetais e de Sementes laboratories of Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano - Campus Rio Verde-GO. Jatropha seeds with moisture content at 6.80 % (w.b.), approximately. The seeds were stored in natural environments conditions, refrigerated and climatic conditions for one year, evaluating the moisture content, water absorption, electrical conductivity, germination and germination speed index in 0, 2,4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 months of storage. Concluded that the conditions of temperature and relative humidity committed the structure of the seeds of jatropha over time, mainly in natural conditions air, and than storage in refrigerated and climatic conditions reduce to a lesser extent the seed quality.