Cryopreservation of the non-dormant orthodox seeds of Ulmus glabra.
In order to evaluate the feasibility of cryopreservation of Wych elm ( Ulmus glabra Huds.) seeds, we evaluated the seeds sensitivity to extreme desiccation and/or the ultra-low temperature of liquid nitrogen (LN; -196 degrees C). We also determined the critical water content (WC) of desiccated seeds and the high-moisture freezing limit of seeds desiccated or moistened to various WCs and frozen for 24 h or up to two years in LN. Germination tests revealed no critical WC for seeds to 0.03 g H 2 O g -1 dry mass, g g -1 . Seeds tolerated freezing in LN within safe ranges of WC 0.03-0.21 g g -1 (nuts). Seeds desiccated to the safe WC and stored in LN for two years had similar germination as seeds stored at -3 degrees C for two years. Therefore, long-term cryopreservation of U. glabra seeds in gene banks is feasible.
Chmielarz
P
P
Polish Academy of Sciences Institute of Dendrology Parkowa 5 62-035 Kórnik Poland. pach@man.poznan.pl
D015925:Cryopreservation; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003890:Desiccation; D018525:Germination; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D034403:Ulmus / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D014867:Water; D009584:Nitrogen