Cryopreservation in the Finnish national germplasm programme for horticultural plants

The National Plant Genetic Resources Programme of Finland was established in 2003. MTT Agrifood Research Finland is responsible for the coordination and execution of the programme on field and horticultural crop genetic resources. Four genetic resource working groups have the organisational responsibility. National genetic resources are maintained mainly in field, greenhouse and in vitro collections. MTT was nominated as the main keeper of vegetative collections. The first task was to draw preservation guidelines. The work was started by evaluating the collections at MTT. The genetic resource working groups drew up and published guidelines for the long-term preservation of Finnish plant genetic resources of fruits and berries, woody ornamentals and vege- tables, herbs and medicinal plants. Cryopreservation was recommended as the first back-up preservation method for most plant species. Cryopreservation was introduced in 2004 at MTT and different plant cryopre- servation methods were tested. Modified droplet vitrification was chosen as the method to be modified for diffe- rent plant species. Species-specific cryopreservation applications were developed and this development still con- tinues. This development has permitted the instigation of the use of cryopreservation for the conservation of col- lections, for example of raspberry, strawberry, currants, and hop. In some cases it is appropriate to maintain plant material under slow growth conditions in vitro.