An important method for plant germplasm conservation is offered by a biotechnology-based approach of cryopreservation. Cryopreservation refers to the storage of plant material at ultralow temperatures in liquid nitrogen. | Turkish Journal of Biology Turk J Biol (2017) 41: 242-248 © TÜBİTAK doi: Research Article Cryopreservation of citrus seed via dehydration followed by immersion in liquid nitrogen 1, 2 1 1 3 Ergun KAYA *, Fernanda Vidigal Duerte SOUZA , Emel YILMAZ GÖKDOĞAN , Muammer CEYLAN , Maria M. JENDEREK 1 Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Kötekli, Muğla, Turkey 2 Embrapa Cassava & Fruits, Cruz das Almas, Bahia, Brazil 3 National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation, USDA-ARS, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Received: Accepted/Published Online: Final Version: Abstract: An important method for plant germplasm conservation is offered by a biotechnology-based approach of cryopreservation. Cryopreservation refers to the storage of plant material at ultralow temperatures in liquid nitrogen. A procedure for cryopreservation of polyembryonic seeds was improved for selected citrus cultivars from Turkey. Seed dehydration was performed at different exposure times, in sterile conditions of a laminar flow-hood. The tested cultivars showed the highest tolerance to low temperature storage when the seeds were first dehydrated to a moisture content of for Poncirus trifoliata Raf. × Citrus sinensis Osb. and to for Citrus limonia Osbeck. The postcryopreservation germinability ranged from (Poncirus trifoliata Raf. × C. sinensis Osb. and Fortunella margarita (Lour.) Swingle) to (C. jambhiri Lush.). Dehydration was beneficial for germination of seeds from all of the tested citrus species after the liquid nitrogen exposure. Seedlings derived from cryopreserved seeds had well-formed shoots and roots and were easily acclimated to greenhouse conditions. Key words: Polyembryonic seed, viability and germination, dehydration time, moisture content 1. Introduction Conventionally, citrus germplasm is conserved in
