Cryopreservation of Capparis spinosa Shoot Tips via Vitrification, Encapsulation Dehydration and Encapsulation Vitrification

In vitro shoot tips of Capparis spiunosa were cryopreserved using the vitrification, encapsulation/ dehydration and encapsulation vitrification techniques. In the vitrification procedure, a maximum of 70% regrwoth was obtained when shoot tips were treated with the Plant vitrification solution (PVS2) for 60 min at 0°C and plunged directly into liquid nitrogen. In encapsulation dehydration, shoot tips from 4 weeks cold hardend plants were encapsulated in calcium-alginate before preculture on MS medium supplemented with 0.75 M sucrose for 1 day, desiccated to 21% moisture content and immersed in liquid nitrogen. Maximum regrwoth using this technique was up to 83%. In encapsulation vitrivifaction, maximum regrwoth rate of 30% was obtained, when encapsulated shoot tips were exposed for 60 min in PVS2 at 0°C. Finally, no callus formation and fastest shoot elongation were obtained when cryopreserved shoot tips were post cultured on MS media free of hormone. The methods studied her are promising techniques for in vitro cryogenic storage of C. spinosa shoot tips.