Cryopreservation of oil palm pollen

Approximately 5 g of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) pollen was stored in liquid nitrogen from March 1998 to April 2006. Pollen grains that were cryopreserved for up to 8 years retained as high as 54±1.72% viability (compared with 62±4.33% before storage) and 49±1.2% in vitro germinability (compared with 52±2.08% before storage). Results indicate the feasibility of cryogenically storing oil palm pollen for long periods without any significant loss in viability and germinability

Cryopreservation of kernel and zygotic embryos of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

The seed storage behaviour of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is enigmatic. Earlier, it was categorised as recalcitrant or orthodox and later, it was confirmed to be exhibiting intermediate seed storage behaviour. Considerable difference in the water content between zygotic embryo and the seed/kernel exists which is proportionally maintained even after desiccation of kernel, which qualifies it to be intermediate storage behaviour. To attempt long term conservation of oil palm germplasm grown in India, studies on germinability/viability in relation to moisture content was conducted for ‘dura’ palm using seed kernel, zygotic embryos and endosperm plug as explants. Based on desiccation and cryopreservation experiments in kernels and embryos, it showed intermediate storage behavior. Zygotic embryo cryopreservation was possible between the moisture content of 10-20 per cent of embryos, and was achieved using silica gel desiccation method of either kernels or embryos or both. Four hours of desiccation under laminar air flow was found optimum to maintain viability after cryo-exposure. A new type of explant, endosperm plug, of 0.1 g weight and 2-5 mm length could offer advantage for the desiccation and cryopreservation of oil palm as it could be dehydrated up to 6 per cent moisture level and retained 20 per cent viability after cryo-exposure. Initial attempt to use encapsulation-dehydration and vitrification-desiccation methods for embryos of oil palm did not yield positive results, necessitating further experiments

Contrasting seed biology of two ornamental palms: Pygmy Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii O’Brien) and Fishtail Palm (Caryota urens L.) and implications for their long-term conservation

477-484The Arecaceae family includes palm trees of economic importance both as a source of agricultural produce and as ornamental components in landscaping projects. Pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) and solitary fishtail palm (Caryota urens) are well known landscaping plants today. Both species have their origin in Southeast Asia and, especially C. urens is widespread in peninsular India and Sri Lanka. They are multipurpose species with a variety of applications and thus very heavily utilized. Knowledge of palm seed storage biology will improve their conservation prospects. In present studies, fresh seed moisture content in P. roebelenii was recorded to be 30% with germinability of 98%. After desiccation to 8% moisture germinability was reduced to 90% and the seeds survived cryo-exposure. Fresh seeds of C. urens, with initial moisture content of 34% and 95% germinability could be desiccated to lowest level of only 29% moisture content, with complete loss of germinability. Fresh as well as desiccated seeds of this species did not survive cryo-exposure. While the seeds of C. urens stored at room temperature lost their germinability by 110 days, seeds of P. roebelenii could germinate even after 9 months of storage. P. roebelenii is proven to exhibit orthodox seed storage behaviour while C. urens is found to exhibit recalcitrant seed storage behaviour. Long-term ex situ cryo-conservation in the form of seed gene banks would be suitable for seed propagated orthodox palm species and a few germplasm centres may be established for recalcitrant Indian palms in suitable bio-geographic regions as a complimentary ex situ conservation

Contrasting seed biology of two ornamental palms: Pygmy Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii O’Brien) and Fishtail Palm (Caryota urens L.)

The Arecaceae family includes palm trees of economic importance both as a source of agricultural produce and asornamental components in landscaping projects. Pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) and solitary fishtail palm (Caryotaurens) are well known landscaping plants today. Both species have their origin in Southeast Asia and, especially C. urens iswidespread in peninsular India and Sri Lanka. They are multipurpose species with a variety of applications and thus veryheavily utilized. Knowledge of palm seed storage biology will improve their conservation prospects. In present studies, freshseed moisture content in P. roebelenii was recorded to be 30% with germinability of 98%. After desiccation to 8% moisturegerminability was reduced to 90% and the seeds survived cryo-exposure. Fresh seeds of C. urens, with initial moisturecontent of 34% and 95% germinability could be desiccated to lowest level of only 29% moisture content, with complete lossof germinability. Fresh as well as desiccated seeds of this species did not survive cryo-exposure. While the seeds of C. urensstored at room temperature lost their germinability by 110 days, seeds of P. roebelenii could germinate even after 9 monthsof storage. P. roebelenii is proven to exhibit orthodox seed storage behaviour while C. urens is found to exhibit recalcitrantseed storage behaviour. Long-term ex situ cryo-conservation in the form of seed gene banks would be suitable for seedpropagated orthodox palm species and a few germplasm centres may be established for recalcitrant Indian palms in suitablebio-geographic regions as a complimentary ex situ conservation

Ethnobotanical notes on some potential wild edible fruits used by the Bhotia community of Niti Valley, Uttarakhand, India

135-144The present study deals with the diversity, distribution and ethnobotany of wild edible fruits consumed by the Bhotia tribe of Niti valley, Chamoli, Uttarakhand, India. Most of these valuable resources fulfil the nutritional, health and economic requirements of Bhotia community up to a large extent. Though the wild edible fruits have great socio-economic significance in sustenance of many tribal/rural communities but due to the increasing trends of modernized agriculture, climate change and various natural and anthropogenic hazards, a large number of genetic resources of wild edible fruits are under severe threat, hence warrants immediate attention for their conservation, domestication and utilization through improvement/selection. Keeping this in view, ethnobotanical knowledge and diversity distribution patterns of 27 potential wild edible fruits consumed by Bhotia tribe in Niti Valley have been recorded with their botanical names, family, local names, uses and indigenous processing methods

Genetic conservation of plantation crops and spices using cryopreservation

348-358 Germplasm conservation in the form of seed is convenient and most cost-effective ex situ conservation method for plant species producing orthodox seeds. Several species of plantation crops and spices produce non-orthodox seeds, which exhibit intermediate or recalcitrant seed storage behaviour. Storage of these species requires the use of in vitro conservation techniques for short- to medium-term conservation and cryopreservation to achieve long-term conservation. Various cryotechniques applicable to 11 genera totaling 16 species [rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Muell.- Arg.), cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.), coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), arecanut (Areca catechu L.), oilpalm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), Coffea spp., tea (Camellia sinensis L.(O.) Kuntze), black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton), cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) and nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt)] are reviewed in the present paper. Physical and physiological factors determining the success or failure of cryopreservation are also discussed. </smarttagtype

Development of an efficient cryoconservation protocol for Himalyan mulberry (<em>Morus laevigata</em> Wall. ex Brandis) using dormant axillary buds as explants

342-350The Himalayan mulberry, Morus laevigata Wall. ex Brandis, is a cold tolerant species found commonly in India from Himalayan foothill to Andaman islands, and it is known for its timber value, forage use, particularly as silkworm's feed. Preservation of germplasm, cryopreservation, particularly for long term storage, of such economically important plant species helps in breeding and development of new cultivars. In the present study, three cryotechniques viz., two-step freezing, encapsulation-dehydration and vitrification were attempted for cryopreservation of of M. laevigata using winter dormant buds as explants. A two-step freezing cryo procedure preceded by desiccation to 15-25% moisture content was developed. Recovery conditions, including dark incubation and rehydration in sterile moist moss grass for different durations, after cryopreservation led to higher survival when compared to untreated controls. For encapsulation-dehydration, alginate beads containing descaled buds were dehydrated for 1-3 days in various sucrose concentrations (0.3, 0.5, 0.75 or 1.0 M). Bead desiccation was performed using laminar air flow for either 1-6 h. For vitrification, descaled buds were directly immersed for 20, 40, 60, 90 or 120 min in a vitrification solution (PVS2). Following encapsulation-dehydration, treatment of alginate beads with 0.75 M sucrose was more effective in promoting regrowth of explants after immersion in liquid nitrogen than in the presence of 0.75 M sucrose for 48 h. Regrowth of explants was also observed following vitrification which reached 50% with increasing duration of the PVS2 treatment for 20-90 min. Overall, the highest frequency of explant regrowth was obtained when explants were subjected to encapsulation-dehydration. This is possibly the first attempt for cryopreservation of Himalayan mulberry adopting these three new cryotechniques

Not Available

Not AvailableAn improved method for pollen collection from freshly dehiscing anthers of mango (Mangifera indica L.) and litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) using the organic solvent cyclohexane has been devised. Using this method pollen quantity sufficient for large scale pollinations could be collected and stored for future use. Transport of pollen in viable conditions over long distances, from site of collection (field genebank) to cryolab was successfully devised for both these fruit species. Cryopreservation was successfully applied to achieve long-term pollen storage over periods of up to four years. Pollen viability was tested using in vitro germination, the fluorochromatic reaction (FCR) method and by fruit set following field pollination. On retesting, four year cryostored pollen of different mango and litchi varieties showed high percentage viability as good as fresh control pollens. Pollens of more than 180 cultivars of mango and 19 cultivars of litchi have been stored in the cryogenebank using the technology developed, thus facilitating breeding programmes over the long-term.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThe seed storage behaviour of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is enigmatic. Earlier, it was categorised as recalcitrant or orthodox and later, it was confirmed to be exhibiting intermediate seed storage behaviour. Considerable difference in the water content between zygotic embryo and the seed/kernel exists which is proportionally maintained even after desiccation of kernel, which qualifies it to be intermediate storage behaviour. To attempt long term conservation of oil palm germplasm grown in India, studies on germinability/viability in relation to moisture content was conducted for ‘dura’ palm using seed kernel, zygotic embryos and endosperm plug as explants. Based on desiccation and cryopreservation experiments in kernels and embryos, it showed intermediate storage behavior. Zygotic embryo cryopreservation was possible between the moisture content of 10-20 per cent of embryos, and was achieved using silica gel desiccation method of either kernels or embryos or both. Four hours of desiccation under laminar air flow was found optimum to maintain viability after cryo-exposure. A new type of explant, endosperm plug, of 0.1 g weight and 2-5 mm length could offer advantage for the desiccation and cryopreservation of oil palm as it could be dehydrated up to 6 per cent moisture level and retained 20 per cent viability after cryo-exposure. Initial attempt to use encapsulation-dehydration and vitrification-desiccation methods for embryos of oil palm did not yield positive results, necessitating further experiments.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThe seed storage behaviour of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is enigmatic. Earlier, it was categorised as recalcitrant or orthodox and later, it was confirmed to be exhibiting intermediate seed storage behaviour. Considerable difference in the water content between zygotic embryo and the seed/kernel exists which is proportionally maintained even after desiccation of kernel, which qualifies it to be intermediate storage behaviour. To attempt long term conservation of oil palm germplasm grown in India, studies on germinability/viability in relation to moisture content was conducted for ‘dura’ palm using seed kernel, zygotic embryos and endosperm plug as explants. Based on desiccation and cryopreservation experiments in kernels and embryos, it showed intermediate storage behavior. Zygotic embryo cryopreservation was possible between the moisture content of 10-20 per cent of embryos, and was achieved using silica gel desiccation method of either kernels or embryos or both. Four hours of desiccation under laminar air flow was found optimum to maintain viability after cryo-exposure. A new type of explant, endosperm plug, of 0.1 g weight and 2-5 mm length could offer advantage for the desiccation and cryopreservation of oil palm as it could be dehydrated up to 6 per cent moisture level and retained 20 per cent viability after cryo-exposure. Initial attempt to use encapsulation-dehydration and vitrification-desiccation methods for embryos of oil palm did not yield positive results, necessitating further experiments.Not Availabl