In vitro preservation of temperate fruit crops – A review

Using cold hardening pretreatments has enhanced successful temperate crop plant cryopreservation methods. The potential of plant cryopreservation can only be fully exploited by effective technology transfer to genebanks and culture collection. While some cryopreservation methods are dependent upon the use of relatively expensive and specialist cryogenic facilities, others involve simplified methods, which are suitable, for use in less well resourced laboratories. Cryopreservation is now an accessible conservation option for a wide range of users.