Thermal analysis of garlic shoot tips during a vitrification procedure.

The thermal behavior of garlic shoot tips was analyzed during the course of a vitrification protocol using the PVS3 vitrification solution. The size of shoot tips did not significantly influence the thermal behavior of garlic shoot tips. Though there was no significance, endo-thermal enthalpy from melting of crystalline ice increased as preculture duration increased to 6 days. Preculture on medium with 0.5 M sucrose significantly lowered exo- and endothermal enthalpies of dehydration-control shoot tips. By contrast, after dehydration with PVS3 solution, the concentration of sucrose in preculture medium had no significant effect on the value of enthalpies. A big thermal event was observed in garlic shoot tips air-dried for 1-3 h before dehydration. Both vitrification solution and dehydration duration significantly (P < 0.0001) influenced exo- and endothermal enthalpies. After dehydration with PVS1, PVS2, Fahy or Steponkus solutions for 120 min, only a small peak was detected in some shoot tips, but recovery of cryopreserved shoot tips was low. Dehydration duration with PVS3 solution significantly (P < 0.0001) influenced exo- and endothermal enthalpies and onset temperatures during cooling and warming. After dehydration for 150 and 180 min with PVS3 vitrification solution, no crystallization was observed during cooling and warming in most replicates, and recovery of cryopreserved shoot tips was highest (> 80%). There was a significant (P < 0.001) negative correlation between moisture content of shoot tips and concentration of sucrose and glycerol, and regeneration of cryopreserved shoot tips. By contrast, there was a significant (P < 0.001) positive correlation between MC and enthalpy of ice melting, and onset temperature of crystallization. Overall, the results of the analysis of the thermal behavior of garlic shoot tips coincide very well with their recovery after cryopreservation and provide a very useful tool for the establishment and optimization of cryopreservation protocols.