Development of Cryopreservation System using Shoot-Apex in Yam (Dioscorea batatas)

The goal of this research was to develop an efficient cryopreservation protocol for germplasms of yam (Diosorea batatas), that were cultivated in Korea. Comparative studies with four other cryogenic techniques and subsequent experiments for shoot regrowth were conducted. in vitro-grown shoot-apices of the D. batatas were successfully cryopreserved by encapsulation-dehydration. The maximum survival of shoot-apices could be achieved when the precultured (with 0.3 M of sucrose for one day) and encapsulated (with a 3%(w/v) Na-alginate solution) apices were dehydrated for $3.5{\sim}4\;h$ prior to direct immersion in LN (liquid nitrogen). The frequency of regrowth rate of cryopreserved apices was not decreased during 3-month storage period. The thawing method markedly affected survival of the cryopreserved apices, and thawing at $40^{\circ}C$ for 3 min produced the best results. When cryopreserved apices were post-cultured on the post-culture medium (MS), supplemented with $0.2mgl^{-1}$ of BA ($N_6$-benzyladenine) and $0.2mgl^{-1}$ of kinetin, they showed direct shooting without callusing.