SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS AND CRYOPRESERVATION OF WALNUT (JUGLANS REGIA L.) AND PECAN (CARYA ILLINOENSIS KOCH)

The experiment was carried out to induce somatic embryogenesis from cotyledon explant and to cryopreserve the somatic embryos in walnut and pecan – two important nut crops.
The cryopreservation was carried out by using non-toxic cryoprotectants viz., DMSO, glycerol and ethylene glycol as pretreatment and the survival percentage was assessed. 5% of DMSO, 1.5% glycerol and 3% ethylene glycol gave maximum survival.
The pretreatment of elevated levels of sucrose revealed that at its lower concentration survival was better whereas at higher concentration of sucrose survival rate decreased and the embryos became necrotic.0.3M sucrose showed maximum survival of the embryos.
Moisture content of the embryos decreased to 40-50% when desiccated with saturated solution of MgCl₂ for 1, 2 and 3 days in dark.
Sucrose-desiccated somatic embryos pretreated with cryoprotectants survived better after one day in the liquid nitrogen.

VII International Symposium on Temperate Zone Fruits in the Tropics and Subtropics – Part Two

S. Kumar, S. Sharma

somatic embryo, cryopreservation, walnut, pecan

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.696.24