Study On Changes In Desiccation Tolerance And Cryopreservation Of Archontophoenix Alexandrae Seeds During Their Development

Due to intolerance to desiccation and low temperature, recalcitrant seeds cannot be stored in the condition of low temperature with low water content. However, cryopreservation has been proved as an appropriate method for the recalcitrant seed germplasm long-term storage. By understanding the pattern of desiccation sensitivity changes in different developmental stages and effects of different drying rate on the desiccation tolerance, it is helpful to identify seeds/embryos with comparatively higher desiccation tolerance and of great value for germplasm long-term conservation to recalcitrant seed species. In this research, germination of Archontophoenix alexandrae(F.Muell.)Wendl.et Drude seeds and excised embryos were studied under gradient water content treatments throughout the seed development phases of two fruit-maturation periods to investigate seed desiccation tolerance and storage characteristics. Based on these, cryopreservation method was employed further to preserve excised embryos of A. alexandrae at different developmental stages. The results showed that:1. It revealed obviously the recalcitrant characteristics of A. alexandrae seed storage behaviour which are tolerant toward neither deep desiccation nor low temperatures.2. The period that rainy-season fruits and dry-season fruits developed to mature was different. The fruits that matured in rainy season need 95 days from florescence...