In a world-first, scientists from the Sunshine State have figured out a way to grow avocado trees from frozen stems, effectively bringing them back to life.
Researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) used liquid nitrogen to freeze two different types of avocado cultivars.
After leaving them for two weeks, they then tried to bring them ‘back to life’.
To revive them, the stems were pulled out of their frozen state and put into a petri dish containing a sugary mixture that rehydrated them.
And the technique worked with a success rate of 60-80%.
There are now 80 successfully thriving avocado plants that have been brought back to life.
UQ PhD student Chris O’Brien says the study could be key to ensuring avocados for future generations, particularly in the face of some unforeseen event.
“The aim is to preserve important avocado cultivars and key genetic traits from possible destruction by threats like bushfires, pests and disease.”
We don’t mind the odd avocado, so makes sense to us!
