GENOTYPIC DIFFERENCES IN THE ABILITY OF EMBRYOGENIC ABIES-NORDMANNIANA CULTURES TO SURVIVE CRYOPRESERVATION

Embryogenic cultures of Abies nordmanniana were cryopreserved after pr eculture in 0.4 M sorbitol and pretreatment with 5% DMSO (dimethyl sul foximide). After cryopreservation, only a few meristematic cells in th e embryo heads survived. Following an initial lag-phase, growth resume d and complete embryos were formed by the surviving cells. Regrowth ca pacity depended strongly on genotype as determined by frequency of sur vival, length of the lag-phase, and growth rate after cryopreservation . Only one of five genotypes resumed growth at same rate as before cry opreservation. Possible causes of differential crytolerance among geno types are discussed.