Cryopreservation of gemmae of Marchantia polymorpha L. (marchantiophyta, marchantiaceae) without prior pretreatment

BACKGROUND: Successful cryopreservation of gametophytic material of bryophytes requires pretreatment with sucrose or abscisic acid. Compared to gametophyte materials, spore and gemmae cryopreservation may be more efficient, simple and stable systems for storing large amounts of genetic diversity of bryophytes within a small space. However, there has still been no attempt at cryopreserving bryophyte gemmae. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine whether bryophyte gemmae with differing levels of desiccation tolerance could survive and germinate after cryopreservation without prior encapsulation and pretreatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gemmae of Marchantia polymorpha L. were dried with silica gel for different times and then rapidly cooled in liquid nitrogen. RESULTS: The germination level of fresh gemmae was 95%. After 3 h predrying and 1 d in LN, germination was 68%, and was still up to 59% after storage for 75 days. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the natural desiccation tolerance of bryophyte gemmae permits cryopreservation without prior pretreatment other than drying.