The cryopreservation of zygotic embryos of European chestnut (Castanea sativa) by dehydration and vitrification

Author: Tamari Kutchava
Keywords: Castanea sativa, zygotic embryos, conservation, cryopreservation, dehydration, vitrification, in vitro
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The conservation of plant biodiversity is an important issue concerning the human population world wide. Conservation plays a fundamental role in maintaining plant species of ecological and economic importance. Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is the dominant of mountainous forests of Western Georgia. Chestnut in the Red List of Georgia IUCN category is represented by vulnerable status (VU). Traditional ways of chestnut reproductions are complex and full of drawbacks and one of the most important ways is its long-term conservation at ultra low temperature (-196 °C) in liquid nitrogen. Freeze-preservation is the only technique, which guarantees the possibility of the problematic species, such as non-orthodox seed, also vegetatively plants, of safe and lowest long-term conservation. Under these conditions, biochemical and most physical processes are completely arrested. As such, plant material can be stored for unlimited periods. In this study, presented the optimal methodology for European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) cryopreservation. It is established, of plant regeneration and development conditions after cryopreservation. The results showed, after thawing the best (100%) viability and plant recovery (66,7 %) have embryos with 21% moisture content. The best for cryopreservation via vitrification, was of embryos with PVS2 solution 30 minutes processing. It is established, that for cryopreservation-storage, treatment of chestnut zygotic embryos in both, with dehydration and vitrification technologies allow the complete regeneration of the plant after freezing. In addition, dehydration of mature embryos gives better results than vitrification, according to the timing and morphological indicators of the plant, after cryopreservation. We suppose that the above study will contribute to the protection of rare and endangered plant species and provides of plant genetic resources accelerated and effective conservation.