Abstract:
Improved recovery of cryopreserved meristems and calli from in
vitro currant (Ribes aureum Pursh and R. ciliatum Humb. & Bonpl.) plants
was obtained by two-hour pretreatment with sucrose, proline, abscisic
acid-responsive protein (RABP), and bovine serum albumin (BSA)
solutions. Meristems and calli cold-acclimatized for one week were
immersed in pretreatment solutions for two hours prior to
cryopreservation by vitrification. Pretreatment with 5% proline, 1%
crude RABP, 0.2% dialyzed RABP, and 1% BSA significantly increased
the regrowth, compared to pretreatment with 0.4 M sucrose liquid
NCGR-RIB medium, and non-pretreated controls. There were no
significant differences among proline, crude and dialyzed RABP, and BSA
pretreatments. Meristems in pretreatment groups resumed growth three
days after thawing, and reached the maximum regrowth at one week,
compared to two weeks for non-pretreated controls. Pretreatment by
hourly immersion provides a simple and effective approach for improving
the recovery of cryopreserved meristems and calli.
Improved regrowth of cryopreserved meristems was also obtained
by cold acclimatization (CA) of plantlets before dissection of meristems.
Meristems acclimatized for 3 or 4 wk had more regrowth than those
acclimatized for 1 or 2 wk. No significant differences were found between
1 and 2 wk, and 3 and 4 wk CA pretreatments.
