Abstract: Mango (Mangifera indica L.) seed is recalitrant which taken from ripened fruits con,ained as high as 69.2'–75.5% moisture content (The moisture content of embryonic axis is 73.8–86.3%). When seeds were naturally dried for 8 days, the moisture content declined to 39.1% (in embryonic axis the moisture content declined to 46.5%) and the viability of seeds completely lost. Embryonic axis lost water slower than whole seed because of the prevention of desiccation by the large cotyledons. During natural desiccation, the conductivity of leachate increased rapidly from 2.2 μΩ·cm-1·g-1 (the same unit below) to 56.7, whereas the activities of dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase decreased drastically. When seeds were rapidly dried for 42 hours, the moisture content declined from 75.5 to 29.9%, the conductivity of leachate increased from 1.8 to 36.9 and the percentage germination changed from 100% to 10%. Desiccation damaged the cell membrane and decreased the activities of enzymes. Rapid drying was better for maintaining longevity than natural (slow) drying because the former did less damage to the cell membrane than natural (slow) drying as shown in the conductivity changes. The moisture content of excised embryonic axis decreased to 11.8% when they were dried for 8 hours by silicagel. The survival percentage of these embryonic axis was 80% when they were incubated in MS+0.2 mg/L BA+2.0 mg/L NAA+500 mg/L gln+3% sucrose+0–9% agar medium. Seeds with 51.0% moisture content (rapidly dried for l0 hours by electric fan blowing) had 65% viability after 7 months wet storage with the polyethylene bag at 15℃.

Key words: Desiccation, Storage, Recalcitrant seed, Mango seed