  In this paper, we investigated if the differences consistently noted in
survival and plantlet production between cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved,
control sugarcane embryogenic calluses were related to modifications induced
during cryopreservation in the structural and functional integrity of cell
membranes. For this, the evolution of electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation
products and cell membrane protein contents was measured during 5 d after
cryopreservation. Differences between control and frozen calluses were observed
only during the first 2 (electrolyte leakage) or 3 d (lipid peroxidation
products and membrane protein content) after freezing. It was not possible to
link these differences with the differences noted in survival and plant
production between control and cryopreserved calluses. Additional studies are
thus needed to elucidate which biochemical factors, linked to survival and
plantlet regeneration, are affected by cryopreservation.
