CRYOPRESERVATION OF DORMANT FRUIT TREE SHOOTS [KRYOPREZERVACE DORMANTNÍCH VÝHONŮ OVOCNÝCH DŘEVIN]

Abstract

In 2021–2024, cryopreservation experiments focused on dormant shoots of pome and stone fruit trees were conducted. The classic freezing protocol, which uses single-nodal segments, was modified towards segments with several nods. In the case of apple and pear trees, we noticed striking variance in the viability among different (or even the same) varieties in different years. Depending on the variety and season, initial drying to 40 and 30% proved effective for apple buds. For pears, it was 40 and 35% in 2023 for ‘Lucasova’. Of the cryopreserved stone fruit trees, only the plum ‘Stanley’ showed demonstrable, albeit low viability of the buds. Seasonal fluctuations are likely to be caused by extreme temperatures during recent winters. In 2025, the results of the budding from the summer of 2024 will be known. However, the course of the experiment in this season, when we focused on the role of the shoot collection date, was again largely affected by the extraordinarily warm weather.

Keywords

• freezing
• nitrogen
• pome fruit
• stone fruit
• segments
• budding