Seed cryopreservation of Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl

Fraxinus angustifolia is used for afforestation and for production of both valuable timber and manna, asubstance with pharmacological applications. The aim of this research was to establish the optimizedcondition for cryopreservation of F. angustifolia seeds, in order to protect the germplasm of thisspecies. Germination percentage and mean time of germination of non-treated seeds (control) andliquid nitrogen-treated seeds were established in water or in 10-6 M gibberellic acid (GA3). The seedscould be cryopreserved with 3% of moisture content (MC) and germinated easily in water (70.0 ± 5.0%),while seeds cryopreserved with 6% MC showed a physiological dormancy. This state could beefficiently removed by addition of GA3, which increased germination to 76.0 ± 2.4%. Liquid nitrogen didnot impair embryo viability, allowing a successful cryopreservation of seeds. The results areparticularly useful for both germplasm conservation programs and in narrow leaved ash nurseries.