Pigment recovery from encapsulated-dehydrated Vaccinium pahalae (ohelo) cryopreserved cells

Pigment producing in vitro cells of Vaccinium pahalae (ohelo) were tested f or their ability to survive cryopreservation and retain pigment-production capacity after encapsulation-dehydration. Preculture of cells for 6 to 8 da ys in a medium containing 1.0 M sucrose was essential before dehydration. R eduction of bead water content before quenching in liquid nitrogen was high ly correlated (r = 0.94) with increased survival rate in cells after cryopr eservation. Dehydration of beads for 4 h was satisfactory for survival of c ells. After quenching in liquid nitrogen, colored cells became pale, but pi gment content was recovered once cells resumed growth. After three subcultu res, cells regained their maximum capacity for pigment accumulation. The pe rcentage of colored-to-total cell volume was not influenced by cryopreserva tion. Encapsulation-dehydration and cryopreservation did not diminish the c apacity of cells to produce anthocyanins and other flavonoids.