The techniques to break dormancy and feasibility of cryopreservation were investigated using freshly collected fully mature Prunusarmeniaca seeds(true seeds + endocarp)from Xinjiang province,China.No seeds germinated at the time of collection when incubated at 20/25℃ for 5 weeks.The endocarp was permeable to water,thus dormancy was not due to an impermeable coat,i.e physical dormancy.Manual removal of endocarps(half-seed)resulted in germination of 10%of seeds without any other treatment.Gibberellic acid treatment improved germination in 66-83%of the half-seeds and cold-wet stratification relieved dormancy in 69-80%of half-seeds.Thus,seeds have non-deep to deep physiological dormancy.Drying half-seeds to water content of 3.3%Fwb.did not lead to viability loss confirming the orthodox nature.Half-seeds dried over silica gel(4.1%Fwb.)survived better compared to air dried samples(7.8%Fwb.)following liquid nitrogen storage.Although storing dormancy broken seeds in liquid nitrogen resulted in lesser germination percentage after 6 months of storage compared to the dormancy broken at the end of storage,this effect was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Our results demonstrate seeds of P.armeniaca can be stored in liquid nitrogen for conservation purpose.