Cryopreservation of seeds of Brazilian species of the genus Dyckia (Bromeliaceae).

The objective of this study was to evaluate different cryoprotectants in cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen (NL) of seeds of Dyckia dusenii, Dyckia kranziana and Dyckia walteriana and to quantify the lipid content of the seeds. The treatments were: control, immersion in NL, glycerol 1 mol.L-1, sucrose 0.4 mol.L-1, PVS1, PVS2, PVS2 + 1% floroglucinol and PVS3. From the seeds, the total lipid content was evaluated. The percentage of germination and abnormal seedlings, germination speed index, length and dry mass of the seedlings were evaluated. After 150 days, the length and dry mass of the aerial and root parts. The cryoprotectants were not effective in the seeds of D. dusenii and D. kranziana, however, for those of D. walteriana it is recommended to use the cryoprotectants glycerol 1 mol.L-1, sucrose 0.4 mol.L-1, PVS1, PVS2, PVS2 + 1 % floroglucinol or PVS3. Studies of the composition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids are necessary to establish a relationship with cryopreservation.