Cryopreservation of Silybum marianum L. seeds.

Cryopreservation is one of the most appropriate and safest tool to preserve plant germplasm species including plants seeds. In this temperature, physiologic activities and metabolic processes of the seeds and plant members are almost held up and seeds are able to survive at unlimited time periods.In this research, in order to preserve seeds of Silybum marianum medicinal plant, from Astereceae Family in cryopreservation condition, we used three pre-treatments: Glycerol 30 %, and plant vitrification solution 2 and Desiccation for seeds. After a week all of treatments were extracted from the liquid Nitrogen(LN) and were melted in thermae with 42°C. Then seeds were transferred to a germinator in 24°C and 16/8H optical period. Results analyzed statistically through laboratory exploration.Results show, Silybum marianum seeds' survival in LN are maintained in all three treatments among which Desiccation treatment has the highest survival percentage(93%) comparing the control (70%). Mean of seeds' length equals 101/13 mm in vitrification treatment while in control it reaches to 47/38. Thus, Desiccation treatment is recommended as an appropriate alternative to preserve this plant seeds and other Orthodox seeds for long periods of time in preserving centers of plant germplasm preservation.