A comparision of four methods for cryopreservation of meristems in banana (Musa spp.).

To establish an improved protocol for the cryopreservation of banana (Musa spp.), a fast-freeze/fast-thaw method was applied and compared to three existing cryogenic procedures, namely, simple freezing, vitrification of proliferating meristems and vitrification of individual meristems. The average post-thaw shoot regeneration of the fast freeze/fast thaw protocol was 51.8 percent and was superior to the existing protocols which were 12.5 percent, 39.2 percent and 42.8 percent, respectively. Other factors such as time and ease of operation were considered for each method. It was found that the fast freeze and fast thaw technique was the best amongst all the four methods tested for the cryopreservation of in vitro banana meristems in the genotype Robusta (AAA).