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IPK Gatersleben > Research > Dept. Genebank > In vitro Storage and Cryopreservation
 

 

In vitro Storage and Cryopreservation
Head: Dr Joachim Keller
Tel: +49 (0)39482 5267
Fax: +49 (0)39482 5741
Email: keller@ipk-gatersleben.de

Research Interest
The genebank collection contains plants which have to be propagated and maintained solely vegetatively. At Gatersleben, these are species of the genus Allium (garlic, shallots, top onions etc.) as well as several other vegetables and herbs. Accumulation of diseases has been found in accessions which have been maintained vegetatively in field plots. However, plants, which do not form storable seeds or which have to be maintained as clones for breeding or research can be maintained apart from sources of infection by in vitro culture and cryopreservation. The practical application of both methods is in different states of development. Therefore, a whole range of applied as well as fundamental investigations are still necessary for the optimisation of the processes. This is especially important for cryopreservation.

The in vitro maintenance is based on culture cycles consisting of micropropagation, isolation of single shoots, plant growth, and cold storage. Such cycles have been established for various vegetatively propagated Allium forms. Further development is in progress. In Allium, multiple shoot bunches, single plantlets or in vitro induced storage organs (bulblets) can be maintained under cold storage conditions. Recently, vegetatively propagated accessions were introduced of Mentha, Brassica, Dioscorea, Artemisia, Antirrhinum and Orthosiphon for which cycles of in vitro maintenance have been developed.

The potentially safest method to maintain vegetative germplasm and recalcitrant seeds for long time periods without changes is the storage in or above liquid nitrogen (cryopreservation). The cryo-genebank consists of 1289 accessions of potato, 101 of Allium and 71 of mint. Research input is necessary for further crops to make cryopreservation methods applicable for practical use. Organised structures may be stored for germplasm preservation such as meristems, embryos, pollen etc. Further Allium species and other vegetatively propagated materials are research targets in the group.



Special research was conducted in potato. It was focussed on physiological, biochemical and ultrastructural analyses after different preculture temperatures and after exposure to liquid nitrogen. This was performed in collaboration with research groups Structural Cell Biology, Applied Biochemistry and Molecular Plant Physiology. Increase of regeneration after rewarming in material cultivated at alternating temperatures prior to cryopreservation is obviously not caused by cold hardening proper but by generally higher vigour of the tissue. The DMSO droplet method is successful despite presence of crystallizable water in the tissue.

Biophysical parameters within the tissues of the material to be preserved are investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Measured heat flow changes are used for exploration of dehydration and glass transition processes, which are necessary for preservation of the tissues in liquid nitrogen. The glassy state is a condition of solutions within the cells in which they are solidified in an amorphous structure, which is much less damaging for the tissue than ice crystallisation taking place without cryoprotection.

In Allium, the research group is also participating in the general germplasm characterisation and it has contributed to the development of plant descriptors. An image database of the garlic core collection of IPK gives an overview about 124 garlic accessions regarding important characters, ontogensis of plants in selected accessions and the classification into infra-specific groups.

Reconstruction of the inflorescence reduction in course of the domestication of garlic demonstrated with morphological pictures of various accessions of the garlic core collection. Above the pictures are the respective infra-specific groups.

An international project was co-ordinated and successfully concluded by the research group within the EU regulation 870/2004 concerning the management of genetic resources. The main result is the establishment of a cryopreserved garlic collection which is maintained in genebanks of three countries (Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland). It includes also safety duplicates of all accessions. This cryo-genebank comprises 220 accessions, 202 of which are proposed to be flagged as European Accessions. A core collection of shallots from five genebanks was also circumscribed. Further work was done on virus elimination of garlic. The project was performed for rationalisation and increase of maintenance safety of both crops.


Pictures of Cryopreservation


Potato droplet-freezing: 1) Droplets on aluminium foil containing explants prior to freezing; 2) Regenerants on solid medium 2 weeks after rewarming; 3) Regenerant plantlet 5 weeks after rewarming. 

Garlic vitrification: 4) explant for vitrification; 5) first regeneration stage 2 weeks after rewarming; 6) Petri dish containing regenerating explants 3 weeks after rewarming; 7) Comparative experiment, plantlets taken out of the culture vessels 4 months after rewarming (-LN control without liquid nitrogen, +LN after cryopreservation). 

Mint droplet vitrification: 8) and 9) two regenerants 5 days after rewarming; 10) In vitro shoots 8 weeks after rewarming; 11) Plants in the greenhouse 4 months after rewarming. 
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Recent References
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[ ^ ] 2012
[ ^ ] 2011
2011 COLMSEE, C., E.R.J. KELLER, C. ZANKE, A. SENULA, T. FUNKE, M. OPPERMANN, S. WEISE & U. SCHOLZ The Garlic and Shallot Core Collection image database of IPK presenting two vegetatively maintained crops in the Federal ex situ genebank for agricultural and horticultural crops at Gatersleben, Germany. Genet. Resour. Crop Evol. online DOI 10.1007/s19722-09211-9768-4.
2011 KELLER, E.R.J., C.D. ZANKE, T. KOTLINSKA, M. OLAS-SOCHACKA, A. REIS & A.M BARATA Cryopreservation of young inflorescence bases in bolting garlic for germplasm storage (Abstr.). In: van Hintum (ed.). To serve and conserve, Abstracts of oral presentations and posters of the European Plant Genetic Resources Conference 2011, CGN, Wageningen, p. 74
2011 KELLER, E.R.J., C.D. ZANKE, T. KOTLINSKA, M. OLAS-SOCHACKA, A. REIS & A.M. BARATA Broadening the spectrum of usable organ sources for cryopreservation of garlic – An AEGIS project report. Bioversity Newsl. Europe 53: 9.
2011 KACZMARCZYK, A., V.-M. ROKKA & E.R.J. KELLER

Potato shoot tip cryopreservation. A review. Potato Research 54: 45-79. (DOI 10.1007/s11540-010-9169-7 publ. online 11.12.2010)

[ ^ ] 2010
2010 KELLER, E.R.J. COST Action “CRYOPLANET” meets Society of Low Temperature Biology in Germany. Bioversity Newsletter for Europe 40:15.
2010 KELLER, E.R.J. & A SENULA Cryopreservation of Plant Germplasm. In: DAVEY, M.R., ANTHONY, P. Plant Cell Culture: Essential Methods. Wiley, pp. 131-152.
2010 KELLER, E.R.J., A. SENULA., C. ZANKE & A. KACZMARCZYK Practical implications to use different explant sources for routine cryopreservation. (Abstr.) CryoLetters 31 (1) : 81-82.
2010 GARCÍA-GINÉS, I., A., SENULA, E. GONZÁLEZ-BENITO, E.R.J. KELLER, & M.C. MARTÍN Genetic stability analysis of mint cultures (field, in vitro and cryopreservation) from a genebank. (Abstr.) CryoLetters 31 (1): 90-91.
2010 KACZMARCZYK, A., M. GRÜBE & E.R.J. KELLER History and development of the potato cryopreservation method and the cryopreserved collection in the IPK Gatersleben. (Abstr.) CryoLetters 31 (1): 91-92.
2010 SENULA, A. & E.R.J. KELLER Cryopreservation of Orthosiphon aristatus – an attempt to transfer a droplet-vitrification method using PVS2 from mint to Orthosiphon. (Abstr.) CryoLetters 31 (1): 94.
2010 KACZMARCZYK, A., A. HOUBEN, E.R.J. KELLER & M.F. METTE Influence of cryopreservation on the cytosine methylation state of potato genomic DNA. CryoLetters 31: 380-391.
2010 KELLER, E.R.J., C. ZANKE, H. STAVELIKOVÁ, J. ZÁMEČNÍK, T. KOTLINSKA, V. MICCOLIS, C. KIK, F. ESNAULT, A. KOLODINSKA BRANTESTAM, D. FISCHER & D. ASTLEY First steps of integrating Europe’s genetic resources in garlic and shallot in a new GENRES project. International Symposium on Edible Alliaceae ( ISEA ) & World Onion Congress (WOC) 2007. Dronten, Netherlands, 29.10.-2.11.2007, Acta Horticulturae (im Druck).
2010 KELLER, E.R.J., A. SENULA & C. ZANKE Alliaceae in cryopreservation, achievements and constraints. 1st International Symposium of ISHS Cryopreservation in Horticultural Species, Leuven, Belgium, 5-8 April 2009, Acta Horticulturae (im Druck).
2010 KACZMARCZYK, A., C. ZANKE, A. SENULA, M. GRÜBE & E.R.J. KELLER Thermal analyses by differential scanning calorimetry for cryopreservation of potato shoot tips. 1st International Symposium of ISHS Cryopreservation in Horticultural Species, Leuven, Belgium, 5-8 April 2009, Acta Horticulturae (im Druck).
2010 SENULA, A. & E.R.J. KELLER
Cryopreservation of mint – routine application in a Genebank, experience and problems. 1st International Symposium of ISHS Cryopreservation in Horticultural Species, Leuven, Belgium, 5-8 April 2009 Acta Horticulturae (im Druck).
2010 ZANKE, C.D., E.R.J. KELLER, T. KOTLINSKA, M. OLAS, M. & J. ZÁMEČNÍK
Cryopreservation of vegetative garlic for the establishment of a European Core collection. 1st International Symposium of ISHS Cryopreservation in Horticultural Species, Leuven, Belgium, 5-8 April 2009 Acta Horticulturae (im Druck).
2010 MAGGIONI, L., M.C. DAUNAY, W. VAN DOOIJEWERT, D. ASTLEY, N. BAS, F. BRANCA, M.J. DÍEZ NICLÓS, E. GEOFFRIAU, J. KELLER, T. KOTLINSKA, K. SMÉKALOVÁ, R. VAN TREUREN & E. LIPMAN
Report of a Vegetables Network. Third Meeting, 10-12 November 2009, Catania, Italy. Bioversity International, Rome, Italy.
[ ^ ] 2009
2009 KACZMARCZYK, A., M. GRÜBE & E.R.J. KELLER
Present state of potato cryopreservation – new aspects reviewed. CryoLetters: 30: 81-82.
2009 KACZMARCZYK, A., A. SENULA, M. GRÜBE & E.R.J. KELLER
DSC - Anwendung in der Kryokonservierung vegetativer pflanzengenetischer Ressourcen. In: KUNZE, W. (Ed.): Anwendungen der Thermischen Analyse, Mikrokalorimetrie & Rheologie im Bereich der Pharmazie, Biotechnologie, Lebensmitteltechnologie & Kosmetik. TA Instruments, Waters GmbH, Eschborn, Deutschland. pp. 15-29.
2009 KELLER, J. Kryokonservierung: Flüssiger Stickstoff als Mittel der Wahl für die Langzeiterhaltung von Genressoucen. IPK Journal 18 (2): 11-12.
2009 SCHULZ, H. & J. KELLER Genetische Variabilität und Analytik von Arznei- und Gewürzpflanzen. Cardamina-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-938649-52-7, 511 pp.
[ ^ ] 2008
2008 KACZMARCZYK, A., T. RUTTEN, M. MELZER & E.R.J. KELLER
Ultrastructural changes associated with cryopreservation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) shoot tips. CryoLetters 29: 145-156.
2008 KACZMARCZYK, A., N. SHVACHKO, Y. LUPYSHEVA, M.-R. HAJIREZAEI & E. R. J. KELLER
Influence of alternating temperature preculture on cryopreservation results for potato shoot tips. Plant Cell Rep. 27: 1551-1558.

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2008 KELLER, E. R. J., A. SENULA & A. KACZMARCZYK
Cryopreservation of herbaceous dicots. In: REED, B. M. (ed) Plant Cryopreservation: A Practical Guide. Springer, New York. pp. 281-332.
2008 KELLER, E.R.J., A. KACZMARCZYK & A. SENULA
Cryopreservation for plant genebanks - A matter between high expectations and cautious reservation. CryoLetters 29: 53-62.
[ ^ ] 2007
2007 KACZMARCZYK, A., M. GRÜBE & E.R.J. KELLER
Cryopreservation of potato: New Results from the IPK Gatersleben, Germany. Mem. Int. Congr. Plant Biotechnol. & Agricult. (BioVeg2007). Centro de Bioplantas, Ciego de Avila, Cuba, May 7-11, CD ROM, 8 pp.
2007 KELLER, E. R. J.
Cryopreservation for maintenance of plant germplasm in Germany. Adv. Hort. Sci. 21: 228-231.
2007 SENULA, A., E.R.J. KELLER, T. SANDUIJAV & T. YOHANNES
Cryopreservation of cold-acclimated mint (Mentha spp.) shoot tips using a simple vitrification protocol. CryoLetters 28: 1-12.
[ ^ ] 2006
2006 ASTLEY, D., N. BAS, J. KELLER & E. ROSA
AEGIS discussions for Allium and Brassica subgroups in Prague. IPGRI Newsl. Europe 32: 10-11.
2006 KELLER, E.R.J.
Die Erhöhung von Effektivität und Sicherheit bei der Erhaltung permanent vegetativer Genbank-Akzessionen durch In-vitro-Kultur und Kryokonservierung. Vortr. Pflanzenzüchtg. 70: 16-26.
2006 KELLER, J. &. D. ASTLEY
Rich genepool of vegetatively propagated Allium L. in Europe. IPGRI Newsl. Europe 32: 7.
2006 KELLER, E.R.J. & R. M. FRITSCH
Current status of the Allium collections at IPK Gatersleben, Germany. In: Thomas, G., D. Astley, I. Boukema, M. C. Daunay, A. del Greco, M. J. Díez, W. van Dooijewert, J. Keller, T. Kotlinska, A. Lebeda, E. Lipman, L. Maggioni & E. Rosa (eds) Report of a vegetables network. Joint meeting with an ad hoc group of leafy vegetables, 22-24 May 2003, Skierniewice, Poland. IPGRI, Rome: 25-28 pp.
2006 KELLER, E. R. J., A. SENULA, S. LEUNUFNA & M. GRÜBE
Slow growth storage and cryopreservation - tools to facilitate germplasm maintenance of vegetatively propagated crops in living plant collections. Int. J. Refrigeration 29: 411-417.
2006 KRYSZCZUK, A., J. KELLER, M. GRÜBE & E. ZIMNOCH-GUZOWSKA
Cryopreservation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) shoot tips using vitrification and droplet method. Food, Agriculture Environm. 4:196-200

2006 THOMAS, G., D. ASTLEY, I. BOUKEMA, M. C. DAUNAY, A. DEL GRECO, M. J. DÍEZ, W. VAN DOOIJEWERT, J. KELLER, T. KOTLINSKA, A. LEBEDA, E. LIPMAN, L. MAGGIONI & E. ROSA (EDS)
Report of a vegetables network. Joint meeting with an ad hoc group of leafy vegetables, 22-24 May 2003, Skierniewice, Poland. IPGRI, Rome: 146 pp.
2006 ZIEGERT, K., W. SCHÜTZE, H. SCHULZ, M. KEUSGEN, E. GUN & E.R.J. KELLER
Efficient determination of cysteine sulphoxides in Allium plants applying new biosensor and HPLC-MS2 methods. J. Appl. Bot. Food Quality 80: 31-35.
[ ^ ] 2005
2005 ISLAM, M. T., D. P. DEMBELE & E. R. J. KELLER
Influence of explant, temperature and different culture vessels on in vitro culture for germplasm maintenance of four mint accessions. Plant Cell, Tissue, Organ Cult. 81: 123-130.
2005 KELLER, E. R. J.
Improvement of cryopreservation results in garlic using low temperature preculture and high-quality in vitro plantlets CryoLetters 26: 357-366.
2005 KELLER, E. R. J., M. GRÜBE & A. SENULA
Cryopreservation in the Gatersleben genebank - state of the art in potato, garlic and mint. Mem. Congr. Internat. Biotecnología y Agricultura (Bioveg 2005). Centro de Bioplantas, Ciego de Avila, Cuba, pp. 97-105.
2005 KELLER, E. R. J., A. SENULA & M. DREILING
Genebanking of vegetatively propagated medicinal plants - two cases: Allium and Mentha. Acta Hortic. 676: 103-109.
2005 LEUNUFNA, S. & E. R. J. KELLER
Cryopreservation of yams using vitrification modified by including droplet method: effects of cold acclimation and sucrose. CryoLetters 26: 93-102.
[ ^ ] 2004
2004 KELLER, E.R.J. & A. SENULA
In vitro techniques to improve the germplasm preservation - case studies for three temperate crops and some general remarks. In: ISLAM, A.S. (ed.) In Vitro Culture, Transformation and Molecular Markers for Crop Improvement. Sci. Publ. Enfield, USA, Plymouth, UK,  107-117.
2004 KIM, H.-H., E.-G. CHO, H.-J. BAEK, C.-Y. KIM, E.R.J. KELLER & F. ENGELMANN
Cryopreservation of garlic shoot tips by vitrification: effects of dehydration, rewarming, unloading and regrowth conditions. Cryo-Letters 25 59-70.
2004 STORSBERG, J., H. SCHULZ, M. KEUSGEN, F. TANNOUS, K.J. DEHMER & E.R.J. KELLER
Chemical Characterization of Interspecific Hybrids between Allium cepa L. and Allium kermesinum Rchb. J. Agric. Food Chem. 52: 5499-5505.
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Staff
scientific staff
Keller, Dr. Joachim +49 (0)39482 5267
staff or visitors
Buechner, Doris +49 (0)39482 5409
Gruebe, Marion +49 (0)39482 5123
Kumar, Dr. Vinod
Senula, Dr. Angelika +49 (0)39482 5409
Subbarayan, Dr. Karthikeyan
Zivny, Mandy
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Interesting Links
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Keywords
in vitro genebank, in vitro maintenance, cryopreservation, slow growth culture, virus elimination, potato (Solanum tuberosum), garlic (Allium sativum), Allium species, Mentha species, Dioscorea species