Cryopreservation Techniques for Plant Genetic Resources

Cryopreservation entails the ultra‐low temperature storage of plant tissues or cells, typically in liquid nitrogen at –196 °C, to arrest all metabolic activity and ensure long‐term viability of genetic resources. Techniques range from controlled slow cooling, which gradually dehydrates cells to avoid intracellular ice formation, to vitrification approaches that employ highly concentrated cryoprotectant solutions to induce a glassy state without ice crystallisation. Encapsulation–dehydration and droplet‐vitrification adaptations facilitate the preservation of sensitive explants such as shoot tips, embryogenic cultures and pollen by combining osmoprotection, precise dehydration and rapid freezing. Integration with in vitro culture and somatic embryogenesis allows regeneration of true‐to‐type plants, while molecular assays safeguard genetic and epigenetic integrity. These methods underpin ex situ conservation of orthodox and recalcitrant seed species, clonally propagated crops and wild relatives, offering a cost‐effective, space‐efficient alternative to field genebanks. Ongoing challenges include optimisation of cryoprotectant toxicity, reduction of reactive oxygen species damage and extension of protocols to under-studied taxa, all of which are vital for global biodiversity preservation and resilient agricultural systems.

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Cryopreservation Techniques for Plant Genetic Resources publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in cryopreservation techniques for plant genetic resources across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Cryopreservation: The storage of biological material at ultra-low temperatures to halt metabolic processes and maintain viability over extended periods.

Vitrification: The process of solidifying a liquid into an amorphous, glassy state without ice crystallisation, typically achieved through high concentrations of cryoprotectants.

Cryoprotectant: A chemical agent (for example, dimethyl sulfoxide or glycerol) used to protect cells from freezing damage by reducing ice formation and osmotic stress.

Somatic embryogenesis: The in vitro induction and development of embryos from vegetative cells, enabling clonal propagation and regeneration of genetically uniform plants.

Recalcitrant seeds: Seeds that cannot withstand drying or freezing, requiring alternative conservation strategies such as cryopreservation of embryonic tissues.

Meristem: A region of plant tissue composed of undifferentiated cells capable of continuous division, often targeted for cryopreservation to regenerate whole plants.

References

1. Direct observation of common cryoprotectant permeation into rice callus by CARS microscopy. Cell Reports Physical Science (2023).
2. Current status of the cryopreservation of embryogenic material of woody species. Frontiers in Plant Science (2024).
3. Cryopreservation of sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) plumules using aluminium cryo-plates: influence of cryoprotection and drying. Plant Methods (2024).