Conserving the gene pool of Far Eastern plants by means of seed cryopreservation

Kholina A.B., Voronkova N.M.

В журнале Biology Bulletin

Год: 2008 Том: 35 Номер: 3 Страницы: 262-269

Cryotolerance of seeds has been studied in 103 plant species of 33 families from five regions of the Russian Far East. In 89.1% of these species, seed viability has not decreased in the course of cryogenic storage. Six species have shown interpopulation variation in the seed response to extremely low temperature (−196°C). Freezing in liquid nitrogen, which results in deep anabiosis, can be used as a means for long-term seed storage. A preliminary assessment of genetic diversity at the population level provides for the maximum possible mobilization of the species gene pool. The results of this study contribute to the development of a scientific basis for creating a seed bank of the Far Eastern flora with the purpose to conserve and restore biological resources of the region.

DOI 10.1134/S1062359008030060