Advances in Cryogenic Techniques for the In Vitro Preservation of Somatic Embryos and Shoot Tips of Plants

This chapter describes advances in cryopreservation techniques for the safe long-term storage of somatic embryos and shoot apical meristems of different plant species. Several examples are presented that illustrate the progress of vitrification-based procedures, analyzing, from a practical perspective, the modifications incorporated to better adapt cryogenic protocols to these organized tissues.Cryopreservation of somatic embryos ensures the preservation of genetically stable and totipotent embryogenic cultures, essential for large-scale propagation, breeding programs, and the rescue of elite genotypes. Likewise, cryopreservation of shoot apical meristems plays a fundamental role in maintaining pathogen-free plants, protecting rare and endangered species, and preserving plants with high commercial and agricultural value. Therefore, cryopreservation of somatic embryos and shoot apical meristems constitutes an important biotechnological strategy.