With the environmental problems caused by man-induced pollution by persistent toxic compounds, the importance of finding remediation solutions is immense. As an emerging field, microbial environmental biotechnology may provide the tools to achieve novel solutions. Microbial communities in the environment have biodegradation capacities which could be, and historically have been, exploited for bioremediation. The novelty lies in being able to access the capacity of the uncultured majority of the microbial community. Every day, more and more knowledge is gained in the field and thanks to new approaches such as metagenomics, along with the access to databases and archives where scientists share information and data, the quest becomes considerably facilitated. Microorganisms are highly diverse in metabolic pathways and some have become highly developed during evolution; detoxification and biotransformation of naturally occurring toxic compounds are therefore not novel concepts. The environmental problem occurs when synthetically manufactured compounds are less efficiently biodegraded. However, improved knowledge about the degradation potential in nature and the involved enzymes may help in developing bioremediation procedures. For this reason, an enzyme involved in catabolic pathways of chlorinated aromatic compounds, dienelactone hydrolase, which has been less well studied, was selected as a target. This study investigated the biogeographical distribution of the dienelactone hydrolase gene identified in metagenomes sampled from different environments globally in order to detect potential environmental patterns. Results may cast light on its significance for degradation of chlorinated aromatic compounds in nature. The results indicate a broad biogeographical distribution of dienelactone hydrolase in varying microbial habitats in the environment. The enzyme was found in environments ranging from water and soil habitats to hypersaline-, dechlorinating-, hot-spring- and other extremophillic habitats, in which the gene sequences shared high similarity within each group. A broad environmental distribution suggests that dienlactone hydrolase could be useful in bioremediation.

This study reviews catalytic ozonation AOPs and traditional ozone-based AOPs to compare their efficiency for degradation of ozone-recalcitrant compounds. With the world’s population increasing and water becoming a scarce resource, it is important to improve current water recycling methods. Recycling water will play a large role in accommodating the increasing demand, but it will also be necessary to be improve the level of treatment in order to account for emerging contaminants (ECs) such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been developed to degrade ECs that are not effectively removed by conventional wastewater treatment. The goal of implementing AOPs is to promote the formation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH), which are stronger oxidants than ozone, to degrade recalcitrant compounds. Current AOPs under investigation include ozonation of metal and carbon-based catalysts, known as catalytic ozonation. Traditional ozone-based AOPs currently in use include UV combined with ozone (UV/O3) and hydrogen peroxide combined with ozone (H2O2/O3). Seventeen studies were reviewed to analyze the effectiveness of multiple carbon- and metal oxide-catalytic ozonation AOPs, compared to traditional AOPs. These studies varied in reactor type, water source, pH, catalyst pretreatment, inclusion of competitor species, and flow regime. The variety of testing conditions made comparison difficult, so all studies were compared based on contaminant removal efficiency and degradation rate, as well as general EC degradation and removal of TOC. The addition of metal oxides during ozonation consistently increased rate of removal and in some cases, even doubled the reaction rate. Catalytic ozonation consistently decreased total organic carbon (TOC) levels amongst multiple studies, even in the presence of competitor species. Future work should study the formation and subsequent breakdown of reaction intermediates, role of competitor species, and impact of sorption to the ozonation catalyst.

Recalcitrant soil carbon is a poorly understood component of total soil organic carbon (SOC). Although the turnover rate of the recalcitrant fraction is slow, warming temperatures are expected to speed the decomposition of recalcitrant SOC resulting in an increase of atmospheric CO₂ in the future. Several studies show that the oldest SOC is associated with the smallest mineral particles (clays), making direct spectroscopic analysis of old carbon difficult. To overcome the difficulty of analyzing natural samples, we created synthetic soils to examine the association between clay surfaces and specific biomolecules based on the hypothesis that clays with higher surface charge will more strongly bond organic molecules, and also that certain molecules will be better stabilized by clay. We used kaolinite, montmorillonite, or quartz (sand) as a synthetic soil inside 12 mL septum-capped vials, added either dissolved glucose or vanillic acid to each mineral, inoculated with soil microbes, and then purged the vials with a CO₂-free atmosphere. We incubated them and measured the concentration and [delta]¹³C of CO₂ that accumulated in the vials. Respiration rates were significantly higher in experiments containing vanillic acid than in those containing glucose. Respiration rates were lowest in experiments containing montmorillonite. We repeated the experiment using dilute H₂O₂ as an oxidant, and adding vanillic acid, glucose, or glycine. Vials with montmorillonite showed lower rates of CO₂ accumulation than kaolinite, and both glycine- and glucose-containing experiments had less CO₂ than vanillic acid-experiments. We conclude that the montmorillonite protected the organic matter from oxidation better than sand or kaolinite. Both clays protected organic matter better than sand. In all experiments with clay, the respired CO₂ had lower [delta]¹³C values than bulk substrate. This carbon isotope fractionation is likely due to preferential desorption, followed by oxidation, of 12C- as opposed to 13C- bearing organic molecules. The mineral-organic interaction is a strong bond that explains the old age of labile organic compounds in soils. These results indicate that the clay fraction of soils must be considered for accurate prediction of future land-atmosphere carbon fluxes. / text

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-07-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:02:34Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 bonjovani_mr_dr_botib.pdf: 1450506 bytes, checksum: bbb65e5c722f4575e52cd2fd2d48cdd3 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O elevado metabolismo das sementes recalcitrantes de Inga vera Willd. subsp. affinis (DC.) T.D. Pennington, é um dos principais fatores que dificultam sua conservação. Uma forma de diminuir os efeitos do intenso metabolismo dessas sementes poderia ser a redução da temperatura do ambiente, pois a temperatura determina a velocidade das reações enzimáticas, afetando as taxas respiratórias. Contudo, as sementes recalcitrantes são intolerantes à dessecação e frequentemente não podem ter seu teor de água reduzido até níveis que permitam a redução da temperatura sem que ocorram danos pelo congelamento da água. Devido à falta de informações sobre o metabolismo respiratório dessas sementes em diferentes condições de estresse, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar as taxas respiratórias desses embriões com diferentes níveis de hidratação e após aplicação de ácido abscísico e estresse osmótico em diferentes temperaturas. Os resultados possibilitaram observar a presença de reações oxidativas que não às da respiração, devido ao consumo elevado de oxigênio, e que as alterações nos níveis de hidratação e temperatura de incubação assim como a aplicação de ácido abscísico e estresse osmótico promoveram alterações nesse metabolismo oxidativo. Os resultados obtidos trazem novas perspectivas para a conservação das sementes recalcitrantes / The high metabolism of recalcitrant seeds of Inga vera Willd. subsp. affinis (DC.) T.D. Pennington is one of the main factors that complicate their conservation. One way to lessen the effects of the intense metabolism of these seeds could be the reduction of temperature of the environment, because temperature determines the speed of enzymatic reactions, affecting respiration rates. However, recalcitrant seeds are desiccation intolerant and often can not have their water content reduced to levels that allow a reduction in temperature without damage by the freezing of water. Due to lack of information on the respiratory metabolism of these seeds in different conditions of stress this study aimed to determine respiration rates of embryos with different levels of hydration and after application of abscisic acid and osmotic stress at different temperatures. The results allowed to observe the presence of oxidative reactions than those of breath due to high consumption of oxigen, and that changes in moisture levels and incubation temperature as well as the application of abscisic acid and osmotic stress promoted changes in oxidative metabolism. The results provide new perspectives for the conservation of recalcitrant seeds

Orientador: Claudio José Barbedo / Banca: Danilo da Cruz Centeno / Banca: João Domingos Rodrigues / Banca: João Nakagawa / Banca: Patrícia Pinho Tonini / Resumo: O elevado metabolismo das sementes recalcitrantes de Inga vera Willd. subsp. affinis (DC.) T.D. Pennington, é um dos principais fatores que dificultam sua conservação. Uma forma de diminuir os efeitos do intenso metabolismo dessas sementes poderia ser a redução da temperatura do ambiente, pois a temperatura determina a velocidade das reações enzimáticas, afetando as taxas respiratórias. Contudo, as sementes recalcitrantes são intolerantes à dessecação e frequentemente não podem ter seu teor de água reduzido até níveis que permitam a redução da temperatura sem que ocorram danos pelo congelamento da água. Devido à falta de informações sobre o metabolismo respiratório dessas sementes em diferentes condições de estresse, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo verificar as taxas respiratórias desses embriões com diferentes níveis de hidratação e após aplicação de ácido abscísico e estresse osmótico em diferentes temperaturas. Os resultados possibilitaram observar a presença de reações oxidativas que não às da respiração, devido ao consumo elevado de oxigênio, e que as alterações nos níveis de hidratação e temperatura de incubação assim como a aplicação de ácido abscísico e estresse osmótico promoveram alterações nesse metabolismo oxidativo. Os resultados obtidos trazem novas perspectivas para a conservação das sementes recalcitrantes / Abstract: The high metabolism of recalcitrant seeds of Inga vera Willd. subsp. affinis (DC.) T.D. Pennington is one of the main factors that complicate their conservation. One way to lessen the effects of the intense metabolism of these seeds could be the reduction of temperature of the environment, because temperature determines the speed of enzymatic reactions, affecting respiration rates. However, recalcitrant seeds are desiccation intolerant and often can not have their water content reduced to levels that allow a reduction in temperature without damage by the freezing of water. Due to lack of information on the respiratory metabolism of these seeds in different conditions of stress this study aimed to determine respiration rates of embryos with different levels of hydration and after application of abscisic acid and osmotic stress at different temperatures. The results allowed to observe the presence of oxidative reactions than those of breath due to high consumption of oxigen, and that changes in moisture levels and incubation temperature as well as the application of abscisic acid and osmotic stress promoted changes in oxidative metabolism. The results provide new perspectives for the conservation of recalcitrant seeds / Doutor

Creosote, containing many high molecular weight hydrophobic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's), is present in the subsurface environment at the Oneida Tie-Yard in Oneida, Tennessee. Phytoremediation using hybrid poplar trees was chosen as the remedial technology on-site. Since monitoring began, the contaminant plume has been shrinking consistently and evidence has shown that remediation is taking place. However, remediation may be rate-limited by the desorption and dissolution kinetics of the PAH's on-site. The objectives of this research are to: (1) estimate the desorption and dissolution rates of 10 PAH's found in the subsurface and (2) estimate the amount of each PAH and total mass of contaminant that is irreversibly sorbed to the soil. Three laboratory desorption and dissolution experiments were performed using contaminated soil samples from the Oneida Tie-Yard site. The first experiment was a batch desorption equilibrium experiment, the second was a batch desorption kinetics experiment, and the third was a soil column dissolution kinetics experiment. The target compounds in this study were: naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, and benzo(b)fluoranthene. The resulting data for the desorption equilibrium experiment revealed that rates of equilibrium were truly not instantaneous in the systems studied. However, because approximately 76% of PAH's desorbed by the first sampling event (3 days), an equilibrium isotherm was considered appropriate. Results showed that there is a sorbed reversible concentration that readily desorbs to the aqueous phase for each PAH. Additionally, it was determined that the percent removal of sorbed PAH's decreases with increasing molecular weight. Desorption curves based on experimental data were found to exhibit linear behavior over large variations in aqueous concentration, but showed exponential behavior as concentrations approached zero. Freundlich sorption equilibrium isotherms for the 10 monitored PAH's on-site were generally found to have N coefficient values over 1, especially over large variations in solution phase concentration, indicating a non-uniform sorbent. Dissolution of resistant PAH's under field-like conditions was determined to occur over long periods of time. Dissolution rates calculated from experimental data were shown to generally decrease with increasing molecular weight. Overall, desorption and dissolution kinetics of PAH's were shown to be rate-limiting factors to remediation at the Oneida Tie-Yard. / Master of Science

Neste trabalho foi estudada a remoção e degradação de alquilbenzeno linear sulfonado (LAS) em esgoto sanitário afluente da Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto Monjolinho do município de São Carlos-SP. Para isso, foi utilizado reator anaeróbio de leito fluidificado (RALF) em escala piloto com areia como material suporte. O reator foi operado durante 220 dias em TDH de 18±1,96h e temperatura mesófila. Foram realizadas análises físico-químicas e cromatográficas, tanto de caracterização do esgoto sanitário afluente, quanto no monitoramento do reator. Em relação ao esgoto sanitário observou-se 653,50 ± 169,30 mg.L-1 e 6,19 ± 3,25 mg.L -1 para DQO bruta e LAS, respectivamente. Em relação aos metais potencialmente tóxicos foram observados cádmio, chumbo, manganês, níquel e zinco, além de traços de ferro. Em relação aos compostos recalcitrantes foram observados no esgoto sanitário butil benzeno sulfonamida, ácido hexadecanóico, limoneno, terpineno, fenol, álcool feniletílico, indolizina, cafeína e isobutil octadecil ftalato. Durante o período de operação do RALF em fluxo contínuo observou-se 503,84 ± 187,06 mg.L-1 e 210,53 ± 78,37 mg.L -1 de DQO bruta afluente e efluente, respectivamente, e eficiência de remoção de 56 ± 14%. Em relação ao LAS foi observado 7,77 ± 3,06 mg.L-1 e 5,67 ± 2,84 mg.L-1 para o afluente e efluente, respectivamente, e eficiência de remoção de 28 ± 27%. Por meio do balanço de massa foi verificado que apenas 0,1% dessa remoção foi por adsorção. Observou-se pH efluente de 7,40 ± 0,32, alcalinidade total efluente de 233,40 ± 40,75 mgCaCO3 L-1, e ácidos orgânicos voláteis efluente de 57,64 ± 48,08 mg L -1. / In this work, it was studied the removal and degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) in a sanitary sewage effluent from the Monjolinho Sewage Treatment Station of the city of São Carlos-SP. For such, it was used a pilot scale anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR), filled with sand as support material. The reactor was operated with 18 hours of TDH and mesophilic temperature. Physicochemical and chromatographic analyzes were performed both in the characterization of the sewage inflow and in the monitoring of the reactor. The variation in concentration of COD and LAS were of 653,50 ± 169,30 mg L-1, and 6,189 ± 3,25 mg L-1, respectively. Regarding potentially toxic metals, cadmium, lead, manganese, nickel and zinc were observed, traces of Iron were also found. Regarding recalcitrant compounds was observed in sanitary sewage, butyl benzenesulfonamide, hexadecanoic acid, limonene, terpinene, phenol, phenylethyl alcohol, indolizine, caffeine and isobutyl octadecyl phthalate were observed. The AFBR was operated in a continuous stream during 220 days. During this period the COD concentration was 503.84 ± 187.06 mg L-1 and 210.53 ± 78.37 mg L-1, afluente and effluent, respectively, with a removal efficiency of 56 ± 14%. In regard to the surfactant LAS, was observed 7.77 ± 3.06 mg L-1 and 5.67 ± 2.84 mg L-1 a ffluent and effluent respectively, being the efficiency of removal of 28 ± 27%. When the mass balance was perform, it was possible to verify that only 0.1% of this LAS removal was by adsorption. The effluent pH remained stable, close to neutrality 7.40 ± 0.32, the total effluent alkalinity was 233.40 ± 40.75 mgCaCO3 L-1 and volatile organic acids 57.64 ± 48.08 mg L-1.

L'utilisation d'une source d'alcali forte, telle que l'hydroxyde de sodium (NaOH), au cours du blanchiment au peroxyde d'hydrogène (H2O2) des pâtes mécaniques a pour inconvénient majeur de solubiliser certains composés du bois. Or, cette matière organique dissoute (MOD) induit une forte valeur de demande chimique en oxygène (DCO) dans les effluents de blanchiment. De plus, une fraction de cette matière organique, nommée DCO récalcitrante (R-DCO), n'est pas biodégradable dans les stations de traitement des eaux usées industrielles. Cette étude a prouvé qu'il était possible d'atteindre la blancheur cible de 75 % ISO en substituant partiellement le NaOH par l'hydroxyde de magnésium (Mg(OH)2) ou le carbonate de magnésium (MgCO3) lors du blanchiment en un stade au peroxyde d'hydrogène d'une pâte TMP d'épicéa. Parallèlement, la consommation en peroxyde d'hydrogène diminuait fortement lors des blanchiment à base de Mg(OH)2 et MgCO3. La DCO a ainsi été réduite de 26 et 31%, respectivement, pour les blanchiments alternatifs en comparaison du blanchiment conventionnel. En outre, seulement 10 et 8 kg O2.ton-1 de R-DCO ont été générés au cours des procédés de blanchiment à base de Mg(OH)2 et MgCO3 contre 13,3 kg O2.ton-1 lors du procédé conventionnel. L'analyse par chromatographie à exclusion stérique couplée à l'absorbance UV, la fluorescence et au carbone organique dissous (HPSEC/UVA-Fluo-COD) a permis de montrer que la MOD dans les effluents de blanchiments conventionnel et alternatifs était caractérisée par les mêmes masses moléculaires. Ces travaux ont également mis en évidence que les blanchiments alternatifs avec des sources d'alcali à base de magnésium affectaient la résistance de la pâte blanchie. Il a été montré que l'indice de rupture diminuait de 10% par rapport à la pâte blanchie de manière conventionnelle. Par ailleurs, la réversion de blancheur de la pâte blanchie avec une source d'alcali alternative a diminué de 2% ISO durant le photo-vieillissement à la lumière. L'analyse structurelle de la lignine a également permis de comprendre les mécanismes réactionnels mis en jeu en fonction de la source alcaline utilisée au cours du blanchiment. Dans le cas d'une pâte chimicothermomécanique (CTMP d'érable), il est envisageable de remplacer totalement le NaOH avec différentes sources d'alcali alternatives mais au détriment des propriétés physiques de la pâte (-25 et 16% sur l'indice de rupture et déchirement). / The use of a strong alkali source, such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), during hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) bleaching of mechanical pulps is responsible for the solubilization of some wood components. Yet, this dissolved organic matter (DOM) induces a high value of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the bleaching effluents. In addition, a fraction of this organic matter, called recalcitrant COD (R-COD), is not biodegradable in industrial wastewater treatment plants. This study has proven that it was possible to reach the brightness target of 75% ISO during a one stage peroxide bleaching of spruce TMP when NaOH was partially substituted by magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) or magnesium carbonate (MgCO3). Meanwhile, hydrogen peroxide consumption decreased significantly during Mg(OH)2- and MgCO3-based bleachings. COD has been reduced by 26 and 31%, respectively, during alternative bleachings in comparison with the conventional one. Furthermore, only 10 and 8 kg O2.t-1 R-COD were generated during Mg(OH)2- and MgCO3-based processes respectively against 13.3 kg O2.t-1 during the conventional process. DOM analysis by size exclusion chromatography coupled with UV absorbance, fluorescence and dissolved organic carbon (HPSEC/UVA-Fluo-DOC) has shown that the MOD in conventional and alternative bleaching effluents were characterized by the same molecular weights. This work has also pointed out that alternative bleachings with magnesium-based alkali sources affected bleached pulp strength properties. A reduction up to 10% of the tensile index was measured compared to the conventional bleached pulp. Otherwise, the brightness reversion of alternative bleached pulps decreased by 2% ISO during photo-ageing under UV irradiation. Structural analysis of lignin enabled us to understand reaction mechanisms brought into play during alternative bleaching. In the case of a chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP maple), it is feasible to completely replace NaOH by different alternative alkali but at the expense of the strength properties of the bleached pulp (-25 and 16 % on tensile and tear indexes).

Orientador: Edson Seizo Mori / Banca: Marcia Balistiero Figliolia / Banca: Edvaldo Aparecido Amaral da Silva / Resumo: Sementes recalcitrantes sempre apresentam dificuldades em seu armazenamento, tornandose um problema para produtores de mudas que muitas vezes não têm como realizar a semeadura logo após a colheita das sementes ou necessitam produzir mudas em diferentes épocas do ano, além de dificultar a conservação de germoplasma. As sementes de ingá, depois de colhidas, perdem sua viabilidade rapidamente, geralmente não ultrapassando 15 dias. As espécies de sementes recalcitrantes normalmente não utilizam bancos de sementes como estratégia de regeneração em condições naturais. Observações ecológicas têm mostrado que é mais comum sua regeneração natural ser por meio de bancos de plântulas. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o armazenamento de sementes pré-germinadas de Inga vera Willd., provenientes de frutos em dois estádios diferentes de maturação, em três condições diferentes de umidade de substrato e em baixa temperatura. Os frutos de Inga vera Willd. colhidos foram separados em duas categorias, de acordo com sua coloração de casca, entre verdes e maduros. Após seu beneficiamento, as sementes foram prégerminadas e armazenadas em substrato sem adição de água (testemunha), com 30 e 60% de umidade sob baixa temperatura (10°C), por um ano. O armazenamento feito a 30 e 60% de umidade mostrou-se com melhor eficiência, tanto para plântulas provenientes de frutos verdes, como as de frutos maduros. Entre os dois tipos de frutos, observou-se que as plântulas obtidas de vagem verde, obtiveram melhor desempenho sob as condições de armazenamento, em relação àquelas obtidas de vagem madura. Podem ser armazenadas por até quatro meses, mantendo 50% de sobrevivência das plântulas do lote, quando o armazenamento é feito sob baixa temperatura (10 ± 5°C) e em substrato com 30 e 60% de umidade. Após um período de armazenamento... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Recalcitrant seeds always present difficulties for storage procedures, becoming a problem for seedling producers that often have no choice to sow them immediately after seed harvest or when they need to produce seedlings through different times by the year. Inga seeds, once harvested, lose quickly their viability, often not exceeding a period of 15 days. Species of recalcitrant seeds do not use seed banks as regeneration strategy into the natural environment. Ecological observations have shown that is common occur their natural regeneration through seedling banks. The objective of this work was to evaluate pregerminated seed storage of Inga vera Willd. from two fruit maturation stages, under different conditions of substrate humidity, and under low temperature. The collected fruits of I. vera 9were splited into two types, according to their color, between unripe and ripe. After the processing of those seeds, they were pre-germinated on substrate and stored in substrate with no water addition (control), 30, and 60% humidity under low temperature (10°C) for a year. The storage made under 30 and 60% humidity showed to be the best for both, seedlings from unripe and ripe fruits. Between two types of fruits, we observed that the seedlings from unripe fruits, presented better performance under storage conditions, when compared to those obtained from mature fruits. They can be stored for until four months, with 50% of seedling survivals when stored under low temperature (10 ± 5°C) and with 30 and 60% of substrate humidity. After a year of seedling storage it was possible to get until 10% of survival... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-08-09Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:39:48Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 camara_atr_me_botfca.pdf: 536810 bytes, checksum: 57f5286522d61f84e18be56157805a7d (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Sementes recalcitrantes sempre apresentam dificuldades em seu armazenamento, tornandose um problema para produtores de mudas que muitas vezes não têm como realizar a semeadura logo após a colheita das sementes ou necessitam produzir mudas em diferentes épocas do ano, além de dificultar a conservação de germoplasma. As sementes de ingá, depois de colhidas, perdem sua viabilidade rapidamente, geralmente não ultrapassando 15 dias. As espécies de sementes recalcitrantes normalmente não utilizam bancos de sementes como estratégia de regeneração em condições naturais. Observações ecológicas têm mostrado que é mais comum sua regeneração natural ser por meio de bancos de plântulas. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o armazenamento de sementes pré-germinadas de Inga vera Willd., provenientes de frutos em dois estádios diferentes de maturação, em três condições diferentes de umidade de substrato e em baixa temperatura. Os frutos de Inga vera Willd. colhidos foram separados em duas categorias, de acordo com sua coloração de casca, entre verdes e maduros. Após seu beneficiamento, as sementes foram prégerminadas e armazenadas em substrato sem adição de água (testemunha), com 30 e 60% de umidade sob baixa temperatura (10°C), por um ano. O armazenamento feito a 30 e 60% de umidade mostrou-se com melhor eficiência, tanto para plântulas provenientes de frutos verdes, como as de frutos maduros. Entre os dois tipos de frutos, observou-se que as plântulas obtidas de vagem verde, obtiveram melhor desempenho sob as condições de armazenamento, em relação àquelas obtidas de vagem madura. Podem ser armazenadas por até quatro meses, mantendo 50% de sobrevivência das plântulas do lote, quando o armazenamento é feito sob baixa temperatura (10 ± 5°C) e em substrato com 30 e 60% de umidade. Após um período de armazenamento... / Recalcitrant seeds always present difficulties for storage procedures, becoming a problem for seedling producers that often have no choice to sow them immediately after seed harvest or when they need to produce seedlings through different times by the year. Inga seeds, once harvested, lose quickly their viability, often not exceeding a period of 15 days. Species of recalcitrant seeds do not use seed banks as regeneration strategy into the natural environment. Ecological observations have shown that is common occur their natural regeneration through seedling banks. The objective of this work was to evaluate pregerminated seed storage of Inga vera Willd. from two fruit maturation stages, under different conditions of substrate humidity, and under low temperature. The collected fruits of I. vera 9were splited into two types, according to their color, between unripe and ripe. After the processing of those seeds, they were pre-germinated on substrate and stored in substrate with no water addition (control), 30, and 60% humidity under low temperature (10°C) for a year. The storage made under 30 and 60% humidity showed to be the best for both, seedlings from unripe and ripe fruits. Between two types of fruits, we observed that the seedlings from unripe fruits, presented better performance under storage conditions, when compared to those obtained from mature fruits. They can be stored for until four months, with 50% of seedling survivals when stored under low temperature (10 ± 5°C) and with 30 and 60% of substrate humidity. After a year of seedling storage it was possible to get until 10% of survival... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)