RESUMO Objetivou-se verificar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de Myrciaria dubia, armazenadas em diferentes ambientes e embalagens durante 300 dias, a partir dos testes de condutividade elétrica, e vigor das plântulas. As sementes foram armazenadas dentro de embalagem de vidro e potes plásticos com água até à superfície do recipiente, no laboratório à temperatura ambiente entre 23 a 25°C e 60-70% UR e em câmara fria à temperatura entre 14-16°C e 50-60% UR. A cada período de armazenamento (0, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240 e 300 dias), foi retirada, de cada recipiente, uma amostra de 110 sementes e submetida às seguintes avaliações: curva de embebição de água, massa seca de sementes, teste de condutividade elétrica, emergência de plantulas e índice de velocidade de emergência. De acordo com os resultados, verificou-se que o armazenamento das sementes de Myrciaria dubia em potes plásticos com água até superfície do recipiente, quer no laboratório e quer na câmara fria, foi indicado para manter a qualidade fisiológica e vigor de plântulas até 300 dias.

ABSTRACT The study aimed to verify the physiological quality of seeds of Myrciaria dubia, stored for 300 days in different conditions and packaging, using tests of electrical conductivity and seedling vigour. The seeds were classified into three weight classes (small, medium and large). Small seeds were considered those with a weight of less than 0.84 g, medium seeds with a weight between 0.86 g and 1.20 g, and large seeds, a weight of greater than 1.22 g. The seeds were stored in glass containers and plastic pots topped up with water, in the laboratory at a room temperature of 23 to 25°C and relative humidity of 60-70%, and in a cold chamber at a temperature of 14-16°C and relative humidity of 50-60%. For each storage period (0, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 days), a sample of 110 seeds was used for analyses, including imbibition curve, seed dry weight, electrical conductivity, seedling emergence and emergence speed index. According to the results obtained, the responses of the seeds in both the laboratory and cold-chamber, and stored in plastic pots topped up with water, were indicated for maintaining physiological quality and seedling vigour up to 300 days.

Abstract The camu-camu tree (Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh) is fruit-bearing tree belonging to the family Myrtaceae. This work was conducted with the purpose of evaluating the type of storage temperature and package which allow better conservation of the quality attributes of camu-camu. The experimental design utilized was the completely randomized with three replications in a factorial arrangement (3x3x8), constituted of three different storage temperatures (laboratory ambiente or 25 ± 2 °C, 15 °C and 20 °C), three types of packages (no package, PET and PVC) and fourteen days’ storage, the fruits being analyzed every two days. The fruits were evaluated as to fresh mass loss, pH, soluble solids contents, titrable acidity, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, anthocyanins, chlorophylls A and B and maturation index (SS/AT). According to the results obtained, the quality attributes and ascorbic acid content were conserved for longer time in the fruits stored on PVC-film covered expanded polystyrene trays at 15 °C. It follows that the best temperature for the storage of camu-camu is 15 °C and the package that best keeps its quality attributes is the PVC-film covered expanded polystyrene tray.