Cryopreservation of 8 Korean Potato Cultivars Using Customized CIP Droplet-Vitrification Protocols

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Abstract - In this study, the PVS2 droplet-vitrification protocol developed by CIP was optimized and applied to establish cryopreservation collection for eight potato cultivars bred by the Rural Development Administration (RDA). The protocol was adapted to the conditions of the National Agrobiodiversity Center (NAC) in Korea, with significant improvements achieved for four cultivars exhibiting comparatively low recovery rates among the eight tested. Optimization focused on four key parameters: carbon source concentration, cold hardening process, tissue size, and dehydration time. Notably, for the ‘Dami’ cultivar, replacing the 4°C treatment with a single cold hardening phase at 7°C improved recovery rates by over 24%. Furthermore, adjustments to sucrose concentrations enhanced donor plant quality, leading to a 30% increase in regeneration rates at 8 weeks. These results highlight the necessity of genotype-specific and cultivar-specific protocol optimization for successful cryopreservation, contributing to the secure, long-term preservation of genetic diversity in clonal crops such as potatoes, which are at risk of loss in the field or in vitro. Looking ahead, the RDA aims to reestablish a cryocollection system for domestic potato cultivars by fostering collaboration between the Highland Agriculture Research Institute and the National Agrobiodiversity Center. This initiative aligns with an integrated active, base, and safety (A-B-S) conservation strategy for sustainable potato germplasm preservation.