Cryopreservation of Sweetpotato Shoot Tips by Vitrification

Abstract

Cryopreservation offers the simplest and most economical way for the long-term conservation of germplasm and vitrification is the preferred method to accomplish this. Undefined endogenous compounds are produced during plant growth and shoot tip preculture conditions. These may influence “cryopreservability” and interact with cryoprotectants that are artificially added during the cryogenic protocol. We are beginning to examine these aspects to improve cryopreservation. Nodal segments of PI 296057 were propagated on a hormone-free modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) solid medium and were grown with 16 hr/8 hr photoperiod. Shoot tips were excised at 0, 3 or 10 hr in light after the dark period. Excised shoot tips were precultured in 0.06 M sucrose in MS for 24 hr and 0.3 M sucrose in MS for 24 hr and then treated with 0.4 M sucrose plus 2 M glycerol for 20 min or 1 hr before being dehydrated in PVS2 [30% (w/v) glycerol, 15% (w/v) ethylene glycol and 15% (w/v) dimethylsulfoxide in MS and 0.4 M sucrose[for 10, 16 or 26 min at 22°C. Shoot tips were placed on thin strips of aluminum foil, which were folded to enclose the shoot tips and then immersed in a liquid nitrogen (LN) slush. Rapid warming and dilution were achieved by transferring the foil strips from LN into 3 ml of 1.2 M sucrose at 22°C for 20 min. All cultures were incubated in darkness for 2 days then dim light for 3 days before transfer to the usual light intensity. Elimination of iron and nitrogen from MS medium in post thaw culture for 5 days increased the viability of LN-treated samples. Maximum survival after LN exposure was achieved with excision immediately after the dark photoperiod, cultured for 1 hr in 0.4 M sucrose plus 2 M glycerol and exposed for 16 min in 100% PVS2 at 22°C. Previously, Towill and Jarret (1992, Plant Cell Reports 11: 175–178) reported that surviving shoot tips developed callus and a variable percentage subsequently formed shoots. In this line all surviving shoot tips eventually formed shoots.