CRYOPRESERVATION OF IN-VITRO GROWN APICAL MERISTEMS OF WASABI (WASABIA-JAPONICA) BY VITRIFICATION AND SUBSEQUENT HIGH PLANT-REGENERATION

In vitro-grown apical meristems of wasabi (Wasabia japonica Matsumura) were successfully cryopreserved by vitrification. Excised apical meristems precultured on solidified MS medium containing 0.3M sucrose at 20 degrees C for 1 day were loaded with a mixture of 2M glycerol and 0.4M sucrose for 20 min at 25 degrees C. Cryoprotected meristems were then sufficiently dehydrated with a highly concentrated vitrification solution (designated PVS2) for 10 min at 25 degrees C prior to a plunge into liquid nitrogen. After rapid warming, the meristems were expelled into 2 ml of 1.2M sucrose for 20 min and then plated on solidified culture medium. Successfully vitrified and warmed meristems remained green after plating, resumed growth within 3 days, and directly developed shoots within two weeks. The average rate of normal shoot formation amounted to about 80 to 90% in the cryopreserved meristems. This method was successfully applied to three other cultivars of wasabi. This vitrification procedure promises to become a routine method for cryopreserving meristems of wasabi.