Cryopreservation of citrus seed via dehydration followedby immersion in liquid nitrogen

Authors

ERGUN KAYA
FERNANDA SOUZA
EMEL YILMAZ GÖKDOĞAN
MUAMMER CEYLAN
MARIA JENDEREK

Abstract

An important method for plant germplasm conservation is offered by a biotechnology-based approach of cryopreservation. Cryopreservation refers to the storage of plant material at ultralow temperatures in liquid nitrogen. A procedure for cryopreservation of polyembryonic seeds was improved for selected citrus cultivars from Turkey. Seed dehydration was performed at different exposure times, in sterile conditions of a laminar flow-hood. The tested cultivars showed the highest tolerance to low temperature storage when the seeds were first dehydrated to a moisture content of 21.8% for Poncirus trifoliata Raf. x Citrus sinensis Osb. and to 17.6% for Citrus limonia Osbeck. The postcryopreservation germinability ranged from 73.3% (Poncirus trifoliata Raf. x C. sinensis Osb. and Fortunella margarita (Lour.) Swingle) to 93.3% (C. jambhiri Lush.). Dehydration was beneficial for germination of seeds from all of the tested citrus species after the liquid nitrogen exposure. Seedlings derived from cryopreserved seeds had well-formed shoots and roots and were easily acclimated to greenhouse conditions.

DOI

10.3906/biy-1603-92

Keywords

Polyembryonic seed, viability and germination, dehydration time, moisture content

First Page

242

Last Page

248

Recommended Citation

KAYA, ERGUN; SOUZA, FERNANDA; GÖKDOĞAN, EMEL YILMAZ; CEYLAN, MUAMMER; and JENDEREK, MARIA (2017) "Cryopreservation of citrus seed via dehydration followedby immersion in liquid nitrogen," Turkish Journal of Biology: Vol. 41: No. 1, Article 25. https://doi.org/10.3906/biy-1603-92
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/biology/vol41/iss1/25