Studies on seed physiology can contribute to conservation and restoration of native vegetation, mainly for the ex situ conservation. Seed maturation is important to assist in the correct time for harvesting fruit, in order to obtain seeds with higher physiologic potential. Despite the ecological importance of many Bromeliaceae species, there is a lack of knowledge about their seeds. In this study the physical and physiological changes during fruit and seed ripening of Vriesea paraibica Wawra and Aechmea bromeliifolia (Rudge) Baker were analyzed. The flowers were tagged during anthesis and fruit harvest was carried out weekly or fortnightly, depending on the species, until the seeds were naturally dispersed. Water content and dry mass were measured by gravimetric method (103 ºC for 17 hours) and seed germination was performed in plastic box (gerbox) with paper filter at 25 °C under a photoperiod of 8 hours of light and 16 hours of darkness for 30 days. The results showed that Aechmea bromeliifolia seeds reached physiological maturity from 65 to 72 days after anthesis and for Vriesea paraibica, 285 days after anthesis. The external visual characteristics of fruits and seeds can be used as a tool to estimate fruit harvesting in order to reach the maximum seed physiological quality for the species. However, the decision for seed harvesting should be confirmed by water content and dry mass of V. paraibica and A. bromeliifolia seeds
Bromeliad; germination; harvest point; physiological maturity
