Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 19, 2025
Cryopreservation of Preimplantation Embryos of Cattle, Sheep, and Goats
Published on: August 5, 2011
Efficient Protocol for Improving the Development of Cryopreserved Embryonic Axes of Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.)
Mariam Gaidamashvili1, Eka Khurtsidze1, Tamari Kutchava1
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, 1, Chavchavadze Ave., 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia.
Abstract:
An optimized cryopreservation protocol for embryonic axes (EAs) of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) has been developed based on the encapsulation-vitrification procedure. EAs of mature seeds were aseptically dissected and encapsulated in alginate beads with or without 0.3% (w/v) activated charcoal (AC). Embedded EAs were dehydrated with Plant Vitrification Solution 2 for different treatment times up to 120 min, followed by direct immersion in liquid nitrogen. Cryopreserved embryonic axes encapsulated with AC showed higher survival (70%) compared to those encapsulated without AC (50%). Sixty-four percent of embryonic axes, from synthetic seeds with AC, subsequently developed as whole plants. Plantlet regrowth was faster in AC-encapsulated EAs and showed enhanced postcryopreservation shoot and root regrowth over 2 cm after five weeks from rewarming. Results indicate that encapsulation-vitrification with activated charcoal added to the beads is an effective method for the long-term preservation of Castaneasativa embryonic axes.
