ALTERNATIVE STORAGE FOR GERMPLASM OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN ‘OHELO BERRIES

‘Ōhelo (Vaccinium reticulatum Smith) is a small, native shrub commonly found in disturbed, open sites at 640 to 3700 meter elevation on the islands of Hawaii and Maui.
The shrub is very hardy with compact form and bright waxy red new growth.
A wide diversity of forms and colors are available in the fruit, leaves and growth habits.
Three ‘Ōhelo berry cultivars, ‘Kilauea’, ‘Red Button’ and ‘Nene’, were selected for ornamental use and fruit production.
This study tested cryopreservation (-196°C) and in vitro cold storage (4°C) of these cultivars for germplasm preservation.
Wild collected seed was also cryopreserved.
Germination of 12 months cryopreserved seed was significantly better than control seed.
Shoot cultures in Star Pac tissue-culture bags were maintained in good condition in 4°C cold storage for more than 16 months.
Bead encapsulated shoot tips were moderately desiccation sensitive and could be dried to 31% moisture content before severe loss of viability.
For cryopreservation, shoot cultures of the three cultivars were cold acclimated with alternating temperatures, then the shoot tips were cryopreserved with controlled rate cooling, encapsulation dehydration and PVS2 vitrification.
Regrowth following the three techniques was similar for the three cultivars.
These results indicate that germplasm from all three cultivars retained viability and regrowth capacity under these storage conditions. ‘Ōhelo berry germplasm could be efficiently conserved for over a year using in vitro cold storage and for long term by cryopreservation of shoot tips or seeds.

XXVIII International Horticultural Congress on Science and Horticulture for People (IHC2010): III International Symposium on Plant Genetic Resources

B.M. Reed, F. Zee, E.E. Uchendu , S. Wada

germination, controlled rate cooling, encapsulation dehydration, liquid nitrogen, PVS2 vitrification, Vaccinium reticulatum

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.918.12