In Vitro Collection – CIP Genebank

Active Collection: In Vitro Conservation

In vitro conservation is a biotechnological method that uses a combination of plant tissue culture techniques through which vegetative propagules (i.e., stem cutting, shoot, meristem) of clonal crops are cultured aseptically in a medium of specific chemical composition, incubated in a controlled environment, and maintained growing under healthy and safe conditions. Currently, it is considered the most efficient method for conserving and distributing genetic resources of clonal crops.

+13,000 Accessions Maintained in vitro, constituting the largest "In Vitro Genebank" in the world.

+11,000 Landraces Landraces and varieties held in trust under the ITPGRFA.

~2,000 Breeding Lines CIP-derived breeding research materials conserved for global use.

The CIP’s genebank uses this technology for conserving the global genetic resources collections of potato, sweetpotato and six clonal Andean root and tuber crops (ARTCs) (achira, arracacha, mashua, oca, ulluco, and yacon).

Expertise & Incorporation Methods

The CIP Genebank initiated in vitro cultures more than 45 years ago and has extensive expertise in developing and applying diverse technologies for the introduction to in vitro of vegetative propagules, safe in vitro conservation, pathogen elimination, cryopreservation and ensuring these genetic resources are available for immediate distribution and use.

Germplasm accessions are incorporated into the in vitro collections by two ways: taking tissue samples from in vivo plants which are subjected to disinfection and aseptic culture, or receiving in vitro cultures transferred from other in vitro genebanks following strict quarantine rules.

Core Genebank Functions

All the materials held in the CIP’s In vitro Genebank are the primary source of germplasm for most Genebank activities, such as characterization, genetic identity, DNA extractions, pathogen elimination, cryopreservation, safety back-ups, and distribution to breeders, farmers, and researchers within CIP and worldwide.

All procedures for in vitro conservation and distribution are carried out under strict quality control measures ensuring the genetic integrity and health of each accession maintained.

Medium-Term Storage (MTS) Protocols & Renewal Times

The in vitro conservation methods developed by CIP’s genebank use treatments for reducing plantlet growth, such as osmotic stress and low temperature for storing viable plantlets in a medium-term-storage (MTS), a period where transferring is not needed as often. Maintenance of the collections implies continuous monitoring of the viability of each accession; when plantlet viability declines, cultures require subculturing by isolating and transferring healthy shoots onto fresh media for re-growing.

Crop Group	Storage Conditions & Method	MTS Renewal Period
Potato	Low temperature (6–8°C) + culture medium containing sorbitol as an osmotic agent	Prolonged from 6–8 weeks to 2 years
Sweetpotato	Incubation at controlled temperatures (19–21°C)	Averages 1 year
Oca	Low temperature reduced-growth method	1 year
Ulluco & Mashua	Low temperature reduced-growth method	1.5 years
Yacon, Arracacha & Achira	Short-term conservation methods (requires research for improved MTS)	Renewals every 4–8 months

ITPGRFA & SMTA Compliance: CIP Genebank promotes the use of this germplasm under the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and therefore each distribution is subjected to the terms and conditions of the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA).