Physiological studies on desiccation, wet storage and cryopreservation of recalcitrant seeds of three fruit species and their excised embryonic axes.
Fu J. R., Zhang B. Z., Wang X. P., Qiao Y. Z., Huang X. L.
Author Affiliation: Department of Biology, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, China.
Seed Science and Technology 18 : 743-754
Abstract : Mango, Litchi and longan seeds died within 7 days when allowed to dry under natural conditions at about 30°C. When stored under moist conditions, seed viability was maintained for up to 120 days in mango seeds stored at 15°, for up to 60 days in Litchi seeds stored at 5° and for up to 100 days in longan seeds stored at 30°. As the seed moisture content decreased in mangoes, the conductivity of the seed leachate increased as did its brown coloration; acid phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities decreased. As Litchi and longan seeds were allowed to dry naturally, the conductivity and contents of soluble sugars and UV-absorbing substances in the seed leachate increased rapidly. Excised embryonic axes of mango could be dried quickly to a moisture content of 11.8% without loss of viability. About 80% of the dehydrated excised axes from longan seeds (moisture content of about 10%) could retain their viability when thawed at 10°-30° after storage in liquid N2 for 12 h.