Abstract:

The quality character, the dehydrogenase activities and the α-amylase activity of Castanea mollissima conserved materials, including the seeds and the excised embryos, were analyzed for purpose of the feasibility of long term storage associated with cryopreservation. The results showed that moisture content was the critical factor deciding the cryopreservation effects of seeds, which were desiccated down to 20% necessarily. Under the conditions of the cryoprotectants, the freezing injury reduced largely, and dehydrogenase activities remained well. Moreover the cryoconserved scale of moisture content was enlarged. A proper combination of cryopreserved factors contributed to maintain the seed vigor, the dehydrogenase activity and α-amylase activity of excised embryos during cryopreservation.

Key words: Castanea mollissima, Moisture content, Cryopreservation, Seed vigor