Abstract
An alternative for the conservation of orchid species threatened with extinction is the seeds preservation for long periods by cryopreservation. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of cryogenic solutions on the orchids Epidendrum radicans and Arundina bambusifolia seeds cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen. Seven treatments were performed: 0.4 M sucrose; 2 M glycerol; PVS1; PVS2; PVS3; PVS2 + 1% phloroglucinol and the control. After liquid nitrogen removal, half of the seeds were subjected to tetrazolium test, and another half was in vitro cultured. After 30 days seed germination was evaluated. There was no significant difference between A. bambusifolia and E. radicans in tetrazolium test and seeds germination. On the other hand, it was observed that in A. bambusifolia tetrazolium and seed germination tests the solutions of PVS1, PVS2, PVS2 + 1% phloroglucinol showed the best results. E. radicans seeds with 4% water content cryopreservation does not require the use of cryoprotectant. On the other hand, cryoprotectant´s use resulted in positive effect in maintenance and viability preservation of A. bambusifolia seeds. PVS1, PVS2 and PVS2 + 1% phloroglucinol showed best seeds survival rates after cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen.
Highlights
Orchids are one of the most cultivated ornamental plants due to their importance to floriculture
Results vary from 95% for Dendrobium candidum seeds when vitrification solution (PVS2) is used to 0% for Vanda coerulea Griff. ex Lindl seeds through vitrification process, which shows the difference between species using different cryopreservation methods (PRITCHARD, 1985; THAMMASIRI and SOAMKUL, 2007). In view of these considerations, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of cryoprotectants solutions in the cryopreservation of Epidendrum radicans and Arundina bambusifolia seeds
Epidendrum radicans and Arundina bambusifolia seeds were obtained through artificial pollination of cultivated plants in greenhouse
Summary
Orchids are one of the most cultivated ornamental plants due to their importance to floriculture. They have between 800 and 1,000 genus and 20,000 to 25,000 species, which make this family one of the biggest plant families (MENINI NETO, 2010). Among the methods used for germplasm preservation, cryopreservation stands out for its low cost and because it shows low risk of preserved material losses (VIEIRA, 2000). Cryopreservation is a method which basic principle is to reduce temperature to extremely low values (-196 °C) aiming to decrease cellular metabolism, with material maximum conservation and quality, without losing vigor, in such a way that the material can retake its growth after liquid nitrogen storage (PEGG, 2007)
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