Ultrastructural changes associated with cryopreservation of potato (Solanum tuberosum l.) shoot tips

The ultrastructure of cells within shoot tips of S. tuberosum 'Désirée' was studied after different steps of the DMSO droplet cryopreservation method. After 2 h of DMSO treatment, cells contained numerous small vesicles, while at the same time mitochondria and chloroplasts had increased in size and vacuoles had assumed an irregular shape. After rapid cooling in liquid nitrogen, subsequent rewarming, and 1 h incubation there were no apparent changes in the ultrastructural organization of the cells, suggesting that they might be still intact. However, two days after rewarming, the meristematic dome area and part of the epidermis showed signs of extensive damage. Rupture of plasmalemma, plasmolysis and destruction of cell organelles as well as strong heterochromatisation of nuclei were observed. Survival and regeneration of cells were found mainly in leaf primordial regions. Here cells were very active, containing many mitochondria and intact or regenerating chloroplasts. Alternating temperature preculture of donor plants before shoot tip isolation improved the cryopreservation results (plant regeneration 46.5 percent) as compared to constantly warm precultured shoot tips (plant regeneration 20.0 percent), which showed slightly stronger damage after rewarming from liquid nitrogen.