Studies related to seeds development of forest species allow the material obtainment of good
physiological and essential quality in silvicultural system considering these species. The objective of this
work was to evaluate the behavior of seeds of
Podocarpus lambertii
Klotzsch ex Endl. and
Podocarpus sellowii
Klotzsch ex Endl., regarding the dehydration sensitivity. Seeds desiccation was made in dry kiln
with forced ventilation and heated air at 35ºC. Seeds of
Podocarpus lambertii, with 28,7% of humidity and
Podocarpus sellowii with 45,5% of humidity (control), after desiccation, resulted the next contents: 21,7%;
14,3%; 7,0% and 5,7% to
Podocarpus lambertii; and 36,9%; 36,0%; 34,0% and 26,8% to
Podocarpus
sellowii. Physiologic quality of seeds was evaluated by germination test and IVG. For tolerance to
desiccation, it could be concluded that: seeds of
Podocarpus lambertii have behavior of orthodox seed, with
critical degree of humidity under 5,7% of water, and
Podocarpus sellowii seeds showed recalcitrant behavior
with critical humidity level around 26,8%.
