Tolerance to desiccation and cryopreservation of seeds of seven South American Ilex species

DOLCE, N.R.; MEDINA, R.D.; GONZÁLEZ ARNAO, M.T.

HORTSCIENCE

AMER SOC HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE

Año: 2018 vol. 53 p. 882 - 886

0018-5345

This research aimed at evaluating the desiccation tolerance and ability to withstand cryostorage of intact seeds of seven South American Ilex species, as well as comparing different methodologies for in vitro germination of fresh and cryostored seeds. Intact seeds were silica gel-desiccated from 2 to 14 hours, then placed in cryovials and immersed in liquid nitrogen (LN). Survival was assessed through in vitro germination of intact seeds, bisected seeds or isolated embryos. Seeds of the seven Ilex species (I. brasiliensis (Sprengel) Loes., I. brevicuspis R., I. dumosa var. dumosa R., I. integerrima (Vell. Conc.) R., I. paraguariensis A. St. Hil., I. pseudoboxus R., and I. theezans R.) tolerated desiccation to ~6% moisture content (MC) and could be successfully cryopreserved when MC decreased between 6.4 and 8.4% depending on the species, prior to immersion in LN. Additionally, it was established the optimal condition for in vitro seed germination of the seven Ilex species. A simply and cost-effective cryogenic procedure (which did not require the use of cryoprotectants or sophisticated facilities) was defined for seeds of seven Ilex species, which provides a new alternative for safe long-term preservation of Ilex germplasm.