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Updated: Jul 28, 2026
Cryopreservation of Preimplantation Embryos of Cattle, Sheep, and Goats
Published on: August 5, 2011
Optimization of Water Content for the Cryopreservation Of Allium sativum In Vitro Cultures by
P T Lynch, G R Souch1, J Zamecnik2
1Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB, UK.
Background:
There is a general requirement to determine and correlate water content to viability for the standardization of conservation protocols to facilitate effective cryostorage of plant germplasm.
Objective:
This study examined water content as a critical factor to optimize the cryostorage of Allium sativum.
Materials And Methods:
Stem discs were excised from post-harvest, stored bulbs prior to cryopreservation by encapsulation-dehydration and water content was determined gravimetrically.
Results:
Survival of cryopreserved stem discs was 42.5 %, with 22.5 % exhibiting shoot regrowth following 6 h desiccation. Gravimetric data demonstrated a correlation between water content corresponding with survival / regrowth from desiccated, cryopreserved stem discs. For encapsulated stem discs a 25 % residual moisture and corresponding water content of 0.36 g H2O g-1 d.wt correlated with maximal survival following ~6.5 h of desiccation.
Conclusion:
The data concurs with the literature suggesting the formation of a stable vitrified state and a 'window' for optimal survival and regrowth that is between 6 - 10 h desiccation. Further studies using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) are suggested to substantiate these findings.
