4. In-vitro conservation

Abstract

In-vitro (tissue culture) techniques offer ways of overcoming serious problems in the conservation of crop genetic resources. These primarily involve the use of slow growth and cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen to store germplasm, but there are also important applications in other areas, including germplasm collecting, multiplication and exchange. Slow growth techniques for medium-term storage of cultures are relatively well developed and in-vitro active gene bank establishment is feasible. Cryopreservation for long-term storage is possible for some materials but, in general, requires further research and development. Among the aspects to be examined are the behaviour of different culture systems when exposed to ultralow temperatures, crop-specific requirements and the genetic stability of stored material.