This study aimed to identify the ideal time for seed collection by fruit maturity of Inga laurina (Sw.) Willd.. Fruits were harvested and classified according to epicarp color in green, yellow-green, and yellow fruits, and in fruits collected from the ground. The following parameters were assessed for each maturation stage: seed dry mass, length of seed and fruit, moisture content, seed germination, average speed of emergence, and average speed of germination. The study was carried out in a completely randomized experimental design in a 4×2 factorial (four maturation stages and two seed sizes) with four replications of 25 seeds each. The data were submitted to ANOVA and the comparison of means was performed by the Tukey test at 5% probability. Seeds of I. laurina were collected from fruits at the green-yellow and yellow maturity stages and classified as large; they reached physiological maturation, therefore, seed size and fruit color are indicative of physiological maturity in I. laurina.
biometry; fruit color; Inga