Cold Storage and Cryopreservation of Camellia Embryogenic Cultures

Abstract

Camellia (Theales, Theaceae) genus belongs to tropical or subtropical trees and shrubs native to Eastern Asia. Chang and Bartholomew (1984) recognized more than 200 species in this genus, which they divided in four subgenera and 20 sections. The economic importance of this genus is largely due to C. sinensis cvs. Sinensis and Assamica, from whose young leaves tea is made. However, another important product greatly used in Chinese cookery is camellia seed oil, which is obtained mainly from C. oleifera, C. semiserrata and C. chekiangolomy (all of the section Oleifera). The majority of existing ornamental camellia cultivars are forms of C. japonica (the species with most varieties), C. reticulata, C. sasanqua and C. saluenensis and their hybrids. Recently, by including these species as pot-plants, their economic importance has enhanced.