Cryopreservation of Citrus reticulata Embryonic Axes by Vitrification Technique

The importance of loading and treatment with a vitrification solution on the survival of Citrus reticulata embryonic axes cryopreserved using vitrification technique (Derudde et al., 1990) were investigated in this paper. Loading treatment was carried out for 20 min. at 25 0C before chemical dehydration with 100 per cent PVS2 for 20 min. After treatment with PVS2 rapid immersion in liquid nitrogen, rapid rewarming, unloading in a 1.2 M sucrose solution for 20 min. Then the culture on solid medium with 0.3 M sucrose for 1 day and growth recovery for 4 weeks on standard medium, survival of C. reticulata embryonic axes reached 60 per cent following the process.