In Vitro Preservation of Somatic Seeds and Nonencapsulated Hemp Shoot Tips

Abstract

Synthetic seed technology and cold storage methods provide genetic uniformity, paving the way for pest- and disease-free plants that are easy to handle. The aim of this study was to develop protocols for the cold storage of nonencapsulated and alginate-capsulated explants of Cannabis sativa L. Axillary shoot tips derived from in vitro-grown plants that were used as explants and stored for up to 9 months at 4 °C in the dark. Somatic seeds were produced in 3% sodium alginate and Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium salt and stored for up to 3 months. After 6 months of cold storage, the highest regrowth of 45% was recorded for the nonencapsulated explants. The recovery of somatic seeds was 90% under the same storage condition after 3 months. Well-developed, regenerated plants from encapsulated explants successfully acclimatized.

Keywords

• synthetic seeds
• cold storage
• hemp
• <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L.
• in vitro culture