CBN-V Video Archives - S7-32
Cryopreservation of Cassava Shoot-tips in a Gene Bank in Cuba

Torres M.A., Z. Fundora and J. Alonso

Instituto de Investigaciones Fundamentales en Agricultura Tropical (INIFAT), Calle 1 Esuina 2, Santiago de las Vegas, La Habana, Cuba inifat@ceniai.inf.cu

        Two methods for cassava shoot-tip cryopreservation were compared in the conditions of a gene bank located in an institution for agricultural research. Encapsulation-dehydration and vitrification were tested looking for simplicity and adaptability to our lab facilities which do not correspond to high biotechnology. For the encapsulation-dehydration method, shoot-tips were precultured with 0.75 M sucrose for 24 hours and dried during 4 hours in a laminar flux cabinet. For vitrification, PVS2 and PVS3 plant vitrification solutions were tested. Encapsulation dehydration was not reliable from the practical point of view, due to an increase of contaminations of the high sucrose preculture liquid media, together with the time consuming procedures (4 hours or more). Vitrification using PVS2 solution for 45 minutes was too drastic, whereas regeneration with PVS3 solution was successful. Despite the fact that regeneration was still low, with average value of 35% for cv. ’CEMSA 74-725’ and 15% for cv. ’Senorita’, vitrification with PVS3 solution was reliable in our working conditions. PVS2 vitrification solution consists only of glycerol and sucrose, so it appears to be a nice method wherever research conditions requires simpler and more adaptable protocols. Further research is necessary for a conclusive assessment.

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