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Title: Extending the dormant bud cryopreservation method to new tree species

Author
item Jenderek, Maria
item Ambruzs, Barbara - Bobbie Ambruzs
item Tanner, Justin
item Holman, Gregory
item Ledbetter, Craig
item Postman, Joseph
item ELLIS, DAVID - International Potato Center
item LESLIE, CHUCK - University Of California

Submitted to: Acta horticulturae
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2014
Publication Date: 6/15/2014
Citation: Jenderek, M.M., Ambruzs, B.D., Tanner, J.D., Holman, G.E., Ledbetter, C.A., Postman, J.D., Ellis, D., Leslie, C. 2014. Extending the dormant bud cryopreservation method to new tree species. Acta Horticulturae. 2nd International Symposium on Plant Cryopreservation. Fort Collins, CO, August 11-14, 2014.

Interpretive Summary: Cryopreservation of tree species using dormant winter dormant buds is more cost effective than using tissue culture; however the dormant bud method is applicable only to a select number of tree species. We investigated if the method might be extended to almond, peach and English walnut. Our results support the suitability of the method for long term storage of the species but improvement of post cryopreservation viability for almond and peach is needed. The study also demonstrated that testing of dormant bud viability by forced bud break is comparable to viability tested by grafting; however using the forced bud break method provides results in a much shorter time and is less expensive than grafting.

Technical Abstract: In cryopreservation of germplasm, using dormant winter buds (DB) as source plant material is economically favorable over tissue culture options. Although the DB cryopreservation method has been known for many years, the approach is feasible only for cryopreserving a select number of temperate tree species. The original method developed for Malus (apple) DB, requires desiccation of stem segments (to 25-30 % moisture content), slow cooling (to -30oC), storage in liquid nitrogen vapor (LNV) and viability testing by grafting. We investigated the possibility of using this method for cryopreservation of DB of Juglans regia, J. cinerea, Prunus dulcis, P. persica, Salix exigua and S. triandra germplasm. The post LNV viability of P. dulcis, P. persica and S. triandra DB was very low. Dormant buds of J. cinerea harvested in December were viable in a higher percent than buds harvested in January. The fraction of viable Salix DB on 10 cm branch segments was significantly higher (30 and 80 %) than on 6 cm long segments (0 and 45 %; P < 0.05); this indicated that the longer segments might be more suitable for cryopreservation of the two Salix species. For Juglans regia, the viability after LNV exposure was evaluated by grafting and forced bud break under high relative humidity conditions and the percent of viable buds was similar for both methods; hence testing under mist might be a valid indication of viability. The application of the Malus DB cryopreservation method might also be applicable to preservation of almond, peach and English walnut however studies on factors enhancing post LNV viability are needed.