Crambe is a leguminous plant with high potential for biodiesel production, due to its high grain oil content. Small farmers have great concern, regarding the maintenance of the seed physiologic quality for longer periods of time. This study aimed at evaluating the physiologic potential of crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst) seeds, FMS Brilhante cultivar, according to different kinds of packaging and storage. The study was carried out in the Seed Analysis Laboratory of the Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, in Cassilândia, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, between 2010 and 2011. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 4x4 factorial scheme, combining kinds of packaging (control, metal, plastic bottle and polystyrene box) and storage times (zero, three, six and nine months), with four replications. The metallic packaging provided a better preservation of the physiologic quality of crambe seeds, while, for the increase of storage time, a negative effect was observed.
Crambe abyssinica Hochst; germination; biofuel
