Cryopreservation of 'Nabali' olive (Olea europea L.) somatic embryos by encapsulation-dehydration and encapsulation-vitrification

Olive (Olea europea L.) somatic embryos were successfully cryopreserved usi ng encapsulation-dehydration and encapsulation-vitrification. In the encaps ulation-dehydration procedure, a maximum of 48% embryo survival was obtaine d when bead moisture content was decreased to 21.1% after 4 h dehydration. Preculture of embryos for 4 d in medium containing 0.75 to 1.25 M sucrose p roduced higher (40 to 34%, respectively) regrowth after cryopreservation us ing encapsulation-dehydration procedure. Dehydration of beads for 3 h in PV S2 ensured higher survival (64%) of encapsulated-vitrified and cryopreserve d (EVN) somatic embryos. Thermal treatment of embryogenic callus for 1 d at 30 degreesC was very effective to increase survival of encapsulated-dehydr ated and cryopreserved (EDN) (58%) and EVN (68%) embryos. Plantlets produce d from control and cryopreserved embryos were phenotypically similar.