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Title: Improvement of cryopreservation technique for long-term storage of shoot tips of Ipomoea batatas

Author
item Jenderek, Maria
item Skogerboe, Dianne
item Ellis, David

Submitted to: American Society of Horticulture Science Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2008
Publication Date: 7/21/2008
Citation: Jenderek, M.M., Skogerboe, D.M., Ellis, D.D. 2008. Improvement of cryopreservation technique for long-term storage of shoot tips of Ipomoea batatas. American Society of Horticulture Science Meeting. July 21-24, 2008. Orlando, Florida 43:1286.

Interpretive Summary: Roots of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatis) are an important food crop in sub-tropical and tropical regions. Being a vegetatively propagated crop, its genetic resources are predominantly preserved as field plantings and/or as tissue cultures. Cryopreservation is the most economic and reliable preservation method for many vegetatively-propagated germplasm collections, however long-term storage protocols developed are not applicable to all genotypes of a collection. Successful cryopreservation of selected sweet potato germplasm is published in literature; however the survival rate reported could not be reproduced. Modifications developed in our laboratory to an original encapsulation-vitrification protocol by Hirai-Sakai significantly improved survival of 13 sweet potato germpalsm accessions exposed to liquid nitrogen. The modification included an 8 hour dark incubation period of nodal sections prior to meristem excision, adjustments in the duration of post-re-warming treatment and minor changes in culture medium recipes.

Technical Abstract: Roots of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatis) are an important food crop in sub-tropical and tropical regions. Being a vegetatively propagated crop, its genetic resources are predominantly preserved as field plantings and/or as tissue cultures. Cryopreservation is the most economic and reliable preservation method for many vegetatively-propagated germplasm collections, however long-term storage protocols developed are not applicable to all genotypes of a collection. Successful cryopreservation of selected sweet potato germplasm is published in literature; however the survival rate reported could not be reproduced. Modifications developed in our laboratory to an original encapsulation-vitrification protocol by Hirai-Sakai significantly improved survival of 13 sweet potato germpalsm accessions exposed to liquid nitrogen. The modification included an 8 hour dark incubation period of nodal sections prior to meristem excision, adjustments in the duration of post-re-warming treatment and minor changes in culture medium recipes.