Cryopreservation of Arecanut (Areca catechu L.) Embryogenic Calli by V Cryo-plate Method

Aims: Arecanut, a perennial palm species of Arecaceae family, has huge commercial value, and is grown mainly for its masticatory nuts. The ever-increasing demand for uniform quality plantlets from growers necessitates putting in place In vitro mass multiplication and other crop improvement programmes. The present study was carried out to standardize the procedure for cryopreservation of embryogenic calli of arecanut, derived from immature inflorescence cultures, by vitrification based cryo-plate technique.

Study Design: Completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications.

Place and Duration of Study: ICAR-Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kerala, India during 2019.

Methodology: The embryogenic calli were precultured in Eeuwen's Y3 basal medium supplemented with sucrose (0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 M) for three days. Explants were affixed on cryo-plates and later dehydrated using plant vitrification solution 3 (PVS3) for 30 min. Cryoplates were inserted in cryovials and cryopreserved. Explants with no cryostorage served as control. Explants were rewarmed quickly in a water bath (40ºC) for 2 min and treated with unloading solution and cultured on recovery medium.

Results: The results showed 8-10 % recovery of embryogenic calli that resulted in normal plantlet production. The clonal fidelity studies, using Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) marker, showed no variation of cryopreserved calli in comparison to the original calli.

Conclusion: This preliminary study demonstrated the successful use of vitrification (V) cryo-plate technique in cryopreservation of embryogenic calli of arecanut. With better recovery percentage, the optimal concentration of sucrose in the preculture medium was found to be 0.3 M. Desiccation in PVS3 solution for 30 min had no adverse effect.