Cryopreservation of chrysanthemum shoot tips using the droplet-vitrification technique

Abstract : This study aimed at developing cryopreservation protocol for chrysanthemum ( Dendranthema grandiflora Tzelev cv. peak) shoot apices based on droplet-vitrification procedure, which is a combination of droplet-freezing and solution based vitrification. Progressive preculture of shoot apices in liquid MS medium supplemented with 0.3 and 0.7 M sucrose for 31 and 17 hours, respectively, was found optimum among preculture treatments tested. The composition of both loading and vitrification solutions significantly affected recovery growth of shoot tips before and after cryopreservation. Balancing glycerol and sucrose concentrations in the solutions was beneficial for recovery growth. The highest recovery after cryopreservation was observed when apical shoot tips were extracted from 4-week-old in vitro plantlets, progressively precultured with 0.3-0.5-0.7 M sucrose for 32-16-6 hours, respectively, then treated with loading solution comprising of 1.9 M glycerol + 0.5 M sucrose (35% PVS3 solution). Apices were then dehydrated with the vitrification solution consisted of 50% glycerol + 50% sucrose for 90 minutes then directly immersed in liquid nitrogen.