Deployment of the encapsulation-dehydration protocol to cryopreserve microalgae held at the Sammlung von Algenkulturen, Universitat Gottingen, Germany.
Encapsulation-dehydration was applied to cryopreserve 14 diverse algal strains, representing eukaryotic terrestrial microalgae; of these 12 survived to form cell colonies after recovery from cryostorage. Surviving algae had varying degrees of tolerance to osmotic dehydration and desiccation in this vitrification-based cryoprotective strategy. The extent of algal regrowth was affected by the mode of desiccation (silica gel or air-flow), the duration of evaporative desiccation and exposure to light during early recovery phase. This paper: (i) demonstrates the versatility of the encapsulation/dehydration method to cryopreserve diverse microalgae; (ii) confirms the successful transfer of this cryostorage technology to the Culture Collection of Algae at Gottingen University (SAG); and (iii) recommends encapsulation/dehydration as a feasible alternative to controlled rate cooling for preserving algae held in international culture collections.
Harding
Keith
K
Plant Conservation Group, University of Abertay Dundee, Bell Street, Dundee, UK. k.harding-damar@tiscali.co.uk
Muller
J
J
Lorenz
M
M
Timmerman
H
H
Friedl
T
T
Day
J G
JG
Benson
E E
EE
D018070:Biological Specimen Banks; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D056890:Eukaryota