Evaluation of Seed Germination of Six Rare Stipa Species following Low Temperature Stress (Cryopreservation)

Cryopreservation is one way to preserve rare, endangered species. However, during the cryopreservation process, plant cells undergo considerable stress, which may lead to cell death. In our work, orthodox Stipa seeds of six rare species were cryopreserved: S. sareptana, S. ucrainica, S. tirsa, S. dasyphylla, S. adoxa, and S. pulcherríma. Short-term cryopreservation (14 days) stimulated germination of all Stipa species studied. Prolonged cryopreservation (70 days and more) decreased the germination of all Stipa seeds except S. sareptana. The decrease in germination progressed over time as a result of the cumulative stress of cryopreservation rather than the initial stress. To stimulate germination, seeds were stratified and treated with GA₃, KNO₃, NaOH, and H₂O₂. After four years of seed cryopreservation, it was possible to obtain seedlings of all the Stipa species studied with 30 days of stratification and 180 days of germination. After five years of cryopreservation and seed treatment with 30% NaOH for one hour, the best germination was obtained in S. adoxa and S. pulcherrima. After treatment with 5% H₂O₂ for 20 min, the best germination was obtained in S. sareptana, S. ucrainica, and S. dasyphylla. S. sareptana seeds germinated in all the aforementioned experiments. S. sareptana has a non-deep physiological dormancy and is the most widespread and drought-tolerant Stipa species studied. The best habitat adaptation and stress tolerance correlated with this species’cryotolerance. S. sareptana was recommended for further cryopreservation, while storage protocols for the other Stipa species studied need further improvements.