Storage, oil quality and cryopreservation of babassu palm seeds

• Attalea vitrivir seeds are highly storage-tolerant.
• The seed oil is highly stable due to the predominance of lauric acid.
• Low-cost methods can be used for storage of seeds for industrial use or propagation.
• Cryopreservation can be used for conservation of genetic resources of this species.

Attalea vitrivir is a neotropical palm with exceptional potential for biofuel production. We evaluated the effects of different storage methods on seed and oil quality and the viability of using cryopreservation for conserving its genetic resources. Fruits were stored for 365 days in the open air (OA); under shade (SH); in the shade in polyethylene bags (PO); and in a cold chamber at 10 °C (CC); seeds were stored for 180 days in SH, PO and CC. We evaluated embryo viability as well as the acid value and fatty acid profile of the oil. Isolated embryos and seeds were stored for 90 days at room temperature (average 25 °C); −20 °C; and at −20 °C following freezing at −196 °C. Embryos were also stored at −196 °C. The storage methods used preserved embryo viability, which remained above 90%, with the exception of seed storage in PO. The oil had an initial acid number of 0.9% and a predominance of lauric acid, and a final acid number of less than 1.6% in all treatments. Saturated fatty acid and lauric acid contents increased with storage. The freezing methods preserved embryo viability and seed germinability. A. vitrivir seeds demonstrate orthodox behavior and are highly storage-tolerant, which is favored by the high stability of their oils. Cryopreservation of embryos shows potential usefulness for the conservation of the genetic resources of this species.