Tracking Permeation of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in Mentha × piperita Shoot Tips Using Coherent Raman Microscopy.

Area of Science:

• Plant Science
• Cryobiology
• Microscopy

Background:

• Cryopreservation offers cost-effective, long-term storage for vegetatively propagated crops.
• Vitrification, a common cryopreservation technique, uses concentrated cryoprotectants, but their protective mechanisms remain unclear.
• Understanding cryoprotectant localization is crucial for optimizing plant tissue preservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To visualize the localization of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) within *Mentha × piperita* (peppermint) shoot tips during cryopreservation.
• To investigate the interaction of DMSO with cellular components at the tissue level.

Main Methods:

• Utilized coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy for direct visualization.
• Applied CARS microscopy to *Mentha × piperita* shoot tips exposed to DMSO.

Main Results:

• Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) demonstrated full penetration into the peppermint shoot tip tissue within 10 minutes of exposure.
• Observed variations in CARS signal intensities indicated potential interactions and accumulation of DMSO in specific cellular regions.

Conclusions:

• DMSO rapidly infiltrates peppermint shoot tips, a key step in vitrification-based cryopreservation.
• The observed DMSO accumulation suggests targeted interactions with cellular components, potentially explaining its cryoprotective role.