Polish Cryobanks: Research and Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources

Abstract

To date, the use of liquid nitrogen (LN) in plant gene banks is relatively limited. Globally, in 2021, approximately 10,000 accessions were cryopreserved, and their explants were derived from in vitro plants. In Europe, out of 500 banks, only 20 use cryogenic temperatures to store plant germplasms. The implementation of seven conservation projects in Poland starting in the 1990s meant that the gene banking system in this country began to gradually develop. Plant gene bank is mainly based on the collection of seeds and makes little use of plant tissues, including those from in vitro culture. From the point of view of systematics, plant material belonging to spermatophytes dominates in Polish gene banks, while spore plants are rarely represented. This review represents the first summary of gene cryobank activities and resources in Poland. It contains a brief overview of the ex situ plant protection programs aimed at the use of LN and presents the characteristics of four existing gene cryobanks in this country. Special attention is devoted to the presentation of studies on the cryopreservation of seeds, as well as of plant tissues, such as embryonic axes and plumules of trees, and fern gametophytes, that make a permanent contribution to gene bank resources.

Successful In Vitro Shoot Multiplication of Quercus robur L. Trees Aged up to 800 Years

“…Clonal propagation of the selected plant species that are recalcitrant to conventional propagation methods is challenging [ 34 ]. Following our previous studies on monumental oaks [ 35 , 36 ], we can here confirm our hypothesis and present the first evidence of an effective propagation method for Q. robur trees aged up to 800 years. The pot culture of lignified shoots of Q. robur enabled us to obtain epicormic shoots from all 21 tested monumental oaks that served as explants for the initiation of in vitro culture.…”

Choosing the Right Path for the Successful Storage of Seeds

“…In recent decades, the importance of preservation of tree species in gene banks has become indisputable as approximately 30% of tree species are threatened with extinction and at least 142 tree species are recorded as extinct in the wild ( , accessed on 20 October 2022). As a result, new gene banks that are focused mostly on preservation of forest tree species were established, e.g., Kostrzyca Forest Gene Bank in Poland [ 17 , 112 ]. Another example of conservation efforts was the UK National Tree Seed Project (UKNTSP), that was initiated in 2013 by Royal Botanic Garden Kew and completed in April 2018.…”

“…Therefore, cryostorage of seeds of woody plant species is not commonly used, although there are several exceptions. For instance, in Forest Gene Bank in Kostrzyca, there are seed accessions of 20 species of forest trees and shrubs cryopreserved ( Table S2 based on [ 17 ]). Moreover, to achieve Global Strategy for Plant Conservation Target 8 (CBD 2012), it is necessary to conserve species native to tropical moist forests [ 156 ].…”

“…However, many of reports have informed about failures or unsuccessful attempts of cryostorage of tropical tree species embryos [ 162 , 163 , 164 ]. So far, only the successful protocol for cryopreservation of Quercus robur plumules is routinely applied in gene banks [ 17 , 112 , 144 , 145 ]. However, the availability of information about cryopreserved accession in seed banks is very scarce and needs to be updated.…”

“…The understanding of the importance of biodiversity protection for future human prosperity has increased the number of efforts aiming at in situ actions such as expanding the protected areas and restoring degraded ecosystems [ 9 ]. Over the course of the last several decades, conservation activities away from the natural location of the plants (ex situ) have resulted in an increased number of gene banks worldwide and a rapid rise in the number of accessions that are preserved [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Gene banks provide a broad range of diversity for usage in breeding programs and research efforts, and they play a key role in disseminating seeds to farmers [ 19 ].…”