Considerations for large-scale implementation of dormant budwood cryopreservation

Authors: TANNER, JUSTIN - Colorado State University; CHEN, KATHERYN - Colorado State University; Bonnart, Remi; MINAS, IOANNIS - Colorado State University; Volk, Gayle

Submitted to: Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2020
Publication Date: 8/20/2020
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/7111141
Citation: Tanner, J.D., Chen, K.Y., Bonnart, R.M., Minas, I.S., Volk, G.M. 2021. Considerations for large-scale implementation of dormant budwood cryopreservation. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture. 144:35-48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-020-01884-5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-020-01884-5

Interpretive Summary: Dormant bud cryopreservation methods have been used to conserve collections in the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System at the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation in Fort Collins, Colorado. This review provides descriptions of the key steps and considerations for successful dormant bud cryopreservation of temperate crops. The described methods allow some diverse, vulnerable field collections of horticultural crops to be placed into secure storage in liquid nitrogen. When needed, the cryopreserved materials can be warmed and propagated to recover the original varieties. Dormant bud cryopreservation methods are an alternative to the labor-intensive shoot tip cryopreservation process for some crop collections. They depend on having access to cold-hardy perennial species in field collections that are sufficiently dormant as well as necessary facilities to receive, process and store the preserved dormant buds.

Technical Abstract: Cryopreservation of clonal plant germplasm is a reliable way to preserve important agronomic traits and protect against loss of crop genetic diversity of many horticultural species. Dormant bud cryopreservation techniques present an efficient alternative to the labor-intensive shoot tip cryopreservation process and may allow a single technician to preserve large quantities of germplasm in a seasonat once. This method of cryopreservation relies on and takes advantage of the natural dormancy in cold hardy crops, making it a viable technique only for deciduous trees and shrubs. When attempting to perform dormant bud research methods to applied-level germplasm preservation efforts, many factors must be considered. This process is necessarily a seasonal endeavor, which puts strain on labor and facilities particularly in winter. Integration of methods and procedures using different crop species or new equipment provides additional challenges that must be tested in advance. By identifying variables of dormant bud processing in cryopreservation literature, options emerge that allow for the modification of reported methods to work within the confines of institutional resources. Infrastructure, pre-processing, and recovery stages are discussed in terms of necessity and available alternatives to allow informed decision making in establishing an applied dormant budwood genebank.