Storage methods For Cinchona Pubescens Vahl. Seeds, Imbabura, Ecuador

The management of forest seeds in Ecuador, in relation to their storage, is still insufficient, in particular the Cinchona pubescens Vahl. The objective was to determine the quality of the seeds and the best methods of seed storage of C. pubescens, using different times, containers and conditions. Seed collection was in Intag, Imbabura. The factors under study were: storage time, types of packaging and storage conditions. The quality of the seeds was determined at the time of harvest and in each treatment. Purity reached 76.5 %, the weight of 1,000 seeds was 0.31 g and the humidity content was 14 %. In the first storage trial, no germination was observed in any treatment from the first month. In the second trial, the best storage method was transparent cover stored in refrigeration for one week, which showed 9.25 % germination power. Cinchona pubescens seeds lose their viability quickly, which becomes null after one month of storage.