Factors affecting the cryopreservation of coffee, coconut and oil palm embryos.

This paper describes the importance of various parameters which can significantly influence the cryopreservability of zygotic and somatic embryos of several recalcitrant and intermediate seed species (coffee, coconut, oil palm). Embryos should be used only when they are in an optimal physiological state as regards notably their maturity and metabolic status. Modifications of recovery conditions can greatly increase the survival rate of zygotic embryos. In the case of oil palm somatic embryos, pregrowth on medium with high sucrose concentration is necessary to induce tolerance to desiccation and cryopreservation.