Influence cryo preservation on viability of Chamomilla reticuta’ seeds varia «Podmoskovnaya» and chemical composition of essential oil

Abstract

The article examines the effect above critical low temperatures on the quantitative and qualitative composition of essential oil of Chamomilla reticuta varia «Podmoskovnaya». Seeds of the studied plant species were treated with ultra-low temperature (–196 ºC) before planting in open ground and the viability of the seeds was determined under laboratory conditions. Cryo processing was carried out by direct immersion of seeds in plastic tubes in Dewar vessels with liquid nitrogen. Cryoprotectants were not used. Cryo processing duration was 1 hour, 3 hour and step freezing. Step freezing of seeds was performed in the following sequence: 1 hour in the refrigerating compartment (+ 4 ºC), 1 hour in the freezing compartment (–8 ºC) and 1 hour in liquid nitrogen. In all cases of the experiment, a slow thawing regime was applied. After cryogenic exposure, the material was planted into open ground. Recovery of essential oil was carried out by hydro distillation on a Clevenger apparatus. The component composition of the essential oils was determined on a Clarus-SQ 8 gas chromatograph with a mass spectrometric detector. As a result of the study, it was found that the effect of ultra-low temperatures on the seed material of the Moscow Region chamomile did not negatively affect the quantitative and qualitative composition of the essential oil of the pharmacy chamomile. On the contrary, this method of treating seeds has had a positive effect on the quantitative composition of the essential oil during the growth of the plant and in some cases has even increased the percentage of certain components, such as αfarnesene, β-farnesene, spatulenol, cis-en-in-dicycloether.