How cryogenics could secure the avocadoes of the future
This is the first time avocado shoot tips have successfully been cryogenically frozen and revived
In specialised gene banks around the world, germplasm — living genetic resources including seeds and plant tissue — has been frozen and stored in large, liquid-nitrogen-cooled cryogenic vats. Before an excited Mr O'Brien discovered green shoots under his microscope, scientists' attempts to place 'true to type' avocado tissue — which creates clones of the parent plant — on those shelves, kept turning to brown mush.
Professor Neena Mitter, from the University of Queensland's Centre for Horticultural Science, said the advancement was needed because of the "recalcitrant" nature of avocado seeds. 'We've got supervisors over in the Huntington Botanical Gardens [in San Marino, California] who have been great supporters of my PhD, and the California industry's quite interested as well," Mr O'Brien said.
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