Comparison of cryopreservation methods for the long term storage of the marine diatom Haslea ostrearia (simonsen)

Long term maintenance of microalgal strains by serial subculturing is often expensive and time-consuming. Alternative methods, such as cryopreservation, present several benefits and thus seem more relevant. Our study aimed at comparing two cryopreservation procedures applied to the marine diatom Haslea ostrearia (Simonsen): (1) a two-step freezing method in liquid media using 5%, 10% and 20% MeOH, Me2SO or Glycerol, and (2) an immobilization-dehydration method consisting in an algal cell entrapped in 0.7 M sucrose dehydrated and air-flow desiccated calcium alginate beads before “direct” or “two-step” freezing. Our results showed that the cryopreservation of H. ostrearia was feasible. With the two-step freezing protocol only Me2SO maintained cell viability without contamination but the low percentage of viability (<10%) prevents its use. Conversely, the immobilization-dehydration methods tested in this study were effective. Average viability of 57% and 77% were obtained with the “direct” and the “two step” cooling assays respectively, ensuring preservation of the genetic traits of H. ostrearia.