Maturação de frutos e sementes de inhaíba (Lecythis lurida - Lecythidaceae)

Information about maturation of the fruits and seeds of native species is necessary. The aim on this study was to evaluate the maturation of fruits and seeds of Lecythis lurida. Flowers in anthesis were marked and the harvest of the fruits and the seeds within 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 months, when the analysis and morphological description were made. The globoids fruits become cylindrical flattened at the 4th month. The seeds presented a vestigial aryl. Their tegument color turned from beige to brown after 3rd month. The white embryo is surrounded by endosperm and did not presented morphological differentiation. The maximum morphological development of seeds were achieved on 4 months, when they showed their largest dimensions (50.9 x 50.8 x 43.3 mm), maximum germination (84.8%) greatest dry mass (32 g) and lowest mortality of seeds (19%), which characterized the physiological maturity and the harvest moment. At this moment the N P K contents were small than 5% and starch become the prevalent reserves constituent (47.8% of dry mass). The ripe seeds represent more than 50% of fruits mass, and present embryo dormancy and mechanical resistance of the tegument, retarding the seedling emergency.