Effects of cryopreservation on developmental competency, cytological and molecular stability of citrus callus

Cell suspensions of twelve citrus genotypes were successfully cryopreserved by vitrification. All genotypes survived cryopreservation with >90% viability and the surviving cells of some genotypes regenerated somatic embryos better than the controls. Single-cell sibling lines of cultivar Newhall were used for cytological and molecular examination. It was found that the ploidy constitution remained genetically stable and that no DNA sequence variation was detected by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay after cryopreservation. In addition, the methylation sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) assay indicated that cryopreservation caused a significant change in DNA methylation status.