CRYOPRESERVATION OF INVITRO SHOOT TIPS OF CHICORY (CICHORIUM-INTYBUS L)

Shoot tips of about 2 mm in length, isolated from in vitro cultured root fragments of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) variety Flash, were subjected to several cryopreservation protocols. Cooling rates were varied between 0,1-degrees-C/min and 0,7-degrees-C/min and the influence of DMSO (during preculture and cryoprotection treatments) on the survival was examined. The best result (regrowth of 83%) was obtained after 2 days preculture on medium without DMSO, cryoprotection with 15% DMSO and cooling to -40-degrees-C at a rate of 0,5-degrees-C/min prior to immersion in liquid nitrogen.