Methods for storing conifer somatic embryo germinants
View Patent ↗In one aspect, the present invention provides methods of storing conifer somatic embryo germinants germinated on a sterile germination medium for delayed transplanting into a growth medium. The methods of the invention comprise the steps of: (a) placing the germinants while still on sterile germination medium into a cold environment in which the temperature is in the range of 0.5° C. to 10° C. for a time period up to six months, said germinants comprising a visible, well-defined epicotyl and radicle; and (b) placing the germinants in water for a time greater than about 1 hour at a temperature below about 24° C. prior to transplantation into growth medium.
1. A method of storing conifer somatic embryo germinants germinated on a sterile germination medium for delayed transplanting into a growth medium, comprising the steps of:
(a) culturing conifer somatic embryos on sterile germination medium for a period of time from about 4 weeks to about 14 weeks to produce germinants comprising a visible, well-defined epicotyl and radicle;
(b) placing the germinants comprising a visible, well-defined epicotyl and radicle produced in step (a), while still on the sterile germination medium, into a dark, cold environment in which the temperature is in the range of 0.5° C. to 10° C. for a time period up to 6 months; and
(c) transferring the germinants stored according to step (b) from the germination medium into water, and storing the germinants in water for a time of up to about four weeks at a temperature of about 0.5° C. to about 5° C. prior to transplantation into growth medium.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of planting at least a portion of the germinants into growth medium for further growth.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the germinants are stored in water for a time from about one week to about two weeks.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the germinants are stored on germination medium for a time period from about one week to about four weeks.
5. The method of claim 1 in which the germinants are Douglas-fir.
6. The method of claim 1 in which the germinants are loblolly pine.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sterile germination medium is solid.