CRYOPRESERVATION OF IN VITRO-GROWN SHOOT TIPS OF CHINESE MEDICINAL PLANT Atractylodes macrocephala KOIDZ. USING A DROPLET-VITRIFICATION METHOD.
BACKGROUND
Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. is an important medicinal species from China that has been used for thousands of years for its special pharmacological antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antithrombotic, antiviral, and anticarcinogenic activities.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this research was to develop an efficient droplet-vitrification protocol for A. macrocephala shoot tips which could be used as a strategy for long-term conservation within gene banks.


METHODS
The duration of preculture, loading, and PVS2 steps, as well as the recovery medium formulation, were optimized to achieve high levels of survival and regrowth for A. macrocephala shoot tips after liquid nitrogen exposure.


RESULTS
Survival and regrowth levels after cryopreservation in the cultivar 'Baizhu' were as high as 76% and 62%, respectively. Thermal analysis using differential scanning calorimetry suggested that the PVS2 treatment plays a critical role for successful cryopreservation.


CONCLUSIONS
The droplet-vitrification method established in this study could be used to cryopreserve A. macrocephala.
Jin-Mei
JM
Zhang
Bin
B
Huang
Xin-Xiong
XX
Lu
Gayle M
GM
Volk
Xia
X
Xin
Guang-Kun
GK
Yin
Juan-Juan
JJ
He
Xiao-Ling
XL
Chenl
D031174:Atractylodes / Q000254:growth & development*; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000254:growth & development*; D058989:Vitrification