Ultra-low temperature conservation of Brazilian pine embryogenic cultures

This study aimed to establish a cryopreservation protocol for embryogenic cultures of A. angustifolia, enabling the ex situ conservation of the species. Embryogenic cultures were established from immature seeds and treated with variations of the cryoprotectant solutions SuDG, SoD and PVS2 prior to immersion in liquid nitrogen. Cell viability was evaluated after 30, 60 and 90 days of re-growth. The highest re-growth without morphological alterations and with normal biochemical composition was obtained with the PVS2 solution with 40 min immersion in ethanol (-20 °C). This procedure opens new horizons for the ex situ conservation of the species genetic.