Medium-term conservation of redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don.) Endl.) in vitro shoot cultures and encapsulated buds

The study evaluated the survival and recovery of non-encapsulated and encapsulated shoots of Sequoia sempervirens after storage at 4°C in the dark for up to 15 months on four different culture media. Survival and regrowth of encapsulated shoots declined within 3 months, regardless of the storage medium composition. By contrast, no significant decrease in survival and regrowth was noted with non-encapsulated shoots after 12 months of storage on Quoirin and Lepoivre medium supplemented, or not, with 1 mg/l benzyladenine. regrowth dropped to 60-61% after 15 months of storage on the same media. Medium-term conservation of S. sempervirens germplasm is therefore possible using in vitro storage of encapsulated shoot cultures.