Swayback:
The fruit of the berries inhibits germination as you have heard. I think Evan hit the proverbial nail on the head with the dispersal excuse, but I am going to go one more. This also gives the plant a physical way to guard its seeds against the dry season. By dropping its fruit late into the dry season, it insures the seeds will be dispersed, and the coming rains will rot & wash away the inhibitors. Then the wonderful green stuff starts...Good luck with your seeds in the refrigerator. Careful the temperature does not drop too much below 50 degrees as most aroids have not evolved a resistance to cold, and the cold will kill the seeds. The dormant tubers of Colocasias, Xanthasomas, Alocasias, Caladiums, & so on evolved the ability to "estivate" which means to store energy enough to rest in a dormant state during hot dry weather. Some amphibians can also do this.
Here is a link that explains this process well.
http://www.cactus-art.biz/note...
I hope this information can help with your seed storage, & future growing endeavors.
