Refrigerated storage of seeds of Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze over a period of 24 months

Abstract

The objective of the present work was to preserve the germination capacity of Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze seeds over a period longer than 12 months by using refrigerated storage and modified atmospheres inside the package. The refrigerated storage were conducted in cold stores set at 0, 4 and 10°C. The modified atmosphere was generated by using packagings made up of flexible plastic films: polyethylene (PE) and Ethyl Vynil Acetate (EVA) with different permeabilities to gases and water vapor. Determinations of weight loss, package atmosphere composition, moisture content, starch content and seed germination capacity were conducted on samples every two months. The results showed that weight losses increase during storage in all conditions tested with lowest values recorded for the storage at 0°C. In turn, the seed moisture content increased by about 10%, while starch concentration decreased but not enough to be statistically significant, though the decrease was more noticeable at 10°C. Concerning the proportion of CO2 found after the first 7 storage months, it was higher both at 4 and 10°C in packagings made of PE. Germination capacities found were different, depending on the films used, refrigeration temperatures and storage times tested. Germination capacities were best kept during storage at 0°C.