Steps of cryopreservation of coffee seeds: physiological responses and antioxidant systems

Abstract

The cryopreservation of plant germplasm at ultralow temperatures is an alternative technique for the long-term storage of seeds of the genus Coffea sp. However, for this technique to be successful, cell integrity must be maintained at all stages of the process on the basis of scientific research. The present study investigated validated cryopreservation protocols for Coffea arabica L. seeds and evaluate the effects on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the seeds at each stage of the process. Seeds were dried on silica gel or with saturated saline solution, precooled or not in a biofreezer, immersed in nitrogen, and reheated in a water bath. After each of these steps, the physiological and biochemical quality of the seeds was determined. Pre-cooling is a step that can be dispensed with in the cryopreservation of Coffea arabica seeds, direct immersion in liquid nitrogen being more indicated. Coffea arabica L. seeds tolerate cryopreservation after rapid drying in silica gel up to water contents of 17 or 20% (wb), with greater survival at 17%. The enzyme activities of catalase, polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase are indicators of the quality of C. arabica L. seeds subjected to cryopreservation.