Work

Optimizing Cryopreservation Protocols for Coffea racemosa and Coffea liberica: Impact of Moisture Content and Packaging on Seed Viability

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Cryopreservation protocols for seeds of some Coffea species, have not yet been defined, due to the high sensitivity to desiccation and to ultra-low temperatures, leading to low seed survival rates after warming. This reduced rate is due to several factors that compromise cellular integrity during steps of the process. In this study, we evaluated the effect of water content and the types of packaging on cryopreservation of Coffea racemosa and Coffea liberica seeds. For that purpose, seeds were dried to water content of 18, 20, and 25 % (dry basis - db) for C. racemosa and 20, 25, 30, and 35% (db) for C. liberica. The seeds were then packed in mesh bags, Falcon tubes, and triple laminated aluminum foil pouches, before being directly immersion in liquid nitrogen. The seeds physiological and biochemical analyses were performed. There was interaction between water content and the packaging of the seeds of the species. Drying the seeds to a 20% water content and packing them in triple laminated aluminum foil pouches, provided the best cryopreservation protocol among those studied, with a high survival rate for C. racemosa at 79.0%, and an 8.0% survival rate for C. liberica.

Source: Agronomy

DOI: 10.3390/agronomy14123058