Advances in the Conservation of Bamboo Genetic Resources Through Whole Seed Cryopreservation

Abstract

Cryopreservation is the conservation of living organisms in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of −196 °C or slightly lower; this phase may also constitute an intermediate stage for definitive freezing at −196 °C. At this temperature, cellular metabolism and biochemical processes are substantially reduced, and biological deterioration is practically paralyzed. Consequently, the biological deterioration of the material during storage is minimal, and it can be stored for indefinite periods of time. Apparently, most seeds of bamboo species do not have any kind of numbness but lose viability quickly when kept under normal environmental conditions. Thus, the use of cryogenic techniques or cryopreservation is an alternative for the conservation of germplasm in the long term, especially when conventional conservation, based on the storage of seeds at low temperatures, is not efficient. In this chapter, we evaluate techniques capable of providing ex situ conservation of whole bamboo seeds. In it, we indicate an effective and safe alternative of conserving the genetic variability of the species to avoid or at least minimize the process of genetic erosion and loss of genetic resources of bamboo, from the cryopreservation of whole seeds. In the end, we also indicate regeneration alternatives, in addition to describing in detail the protocol for cryopreservation of seeds that, which followed correctly, can be extended to the various bamboo species.