Influence of post-harvest period of fruits on the physiological quality of papaya seeds

Abstract

In order to evaluate the influence of resting of papaya fruits over the physiological quality of the seeds, this work was carried out at the Laboratory of the Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, in Campos dos Goytacazes-RJ. The seeds from genotypes Solo and Formosa were collected from hermaphrodite fruits under stage II (1/4 ripe fruit). The extraction of the seeds was accomplished immediately after the harvest of the fruits, and also after 10 days of rest in two a chambers regulated to 10 and 25ºC temperature. The seeds were analyzed for germination and vigour (first counting, index of germination speed, length of the radicle and cold test). The results showed that the rest of the fruits for 10 days at 25ºC influenced positively the germination and the vigour of the seeds for both genotypes.

Carica papaya; storage fruits; germination; vigour