(Cryo)conservation of Ajania pacifica (Nakai) Bremer et Humphries shoot tips via encapsulation-dehydration technique.

BACKGROUND: Ajania pacifica, a novelty on the horticultural market, is valued as an ornamental and a medicinal plant. Breeding programs led to the creation of numerous cultivars. Therefore, it is important to develop species storage methods.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study has been to develop an encapsulation-based cryopreservation protocol of Ajania pacifica shoot tips.

METHODS

Shoot tips of ajania 'Bengo' were precultured on media with different sucrose and ABA concentrations, encapsulated and dehydrated for various periods and stored in liquid nitrogen. After thawing the explants were inoculated on different recovery media.

RESULTS

A higher (9%) sucrose concentration and addition of ABA (15 µM) during preculture, followed by 4-hour desiccation (41% moisture content), as well as the application of cytokinins (1.11 µM BA or 1.16 µM KIN) in the post-thawing recovery medium were necessary to provide a high survival rate of ajania 'Bengo' shoot tips.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite good survival of shoot tips of ajania following cryopreservation procedure, the stimulation of their further growth is a problem.