Cold storage of in vitro cultures of wild cherry, chestnut and oak

Shoot cultures of chestnut, oak and wild cherry have been stored at low temperature (2°C) for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Cultures were stored immediately after the last subculture or 10 d later. Survival and morphogenetic parameters have been recorded at the end of each period of storage. Both survival and proliferation capacity of the explants were influenced by the timing of the transfer. When the explants were stored 10 d after the subculture, higher percentages of survival and multiplication rates were obtained. The 4 species studied may be maintained at 2°C for up to 1 year without subculturing.
The work was partially supported by the EEC (ECLAIR, AGRE-0067).