Preservation methods for Jerusalem artichoke cultivars

Preservation methods were evaluated for jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus L.) to facilitate the back-up of field collections. In vitro plant cultures were established from field-harvested tubers for nine jerusalem artichoke cultivars obtained from the Plant Gene Resources of Canada, Saskatoon Research Center, Saskatoon, Canada. Most cultivars could be maintained at 5 degrees C or under 25 degrees C growth room conditions for at least 6 months. Excised shoot tips from in vitro cultures were cryopreserved using plant vitrification solution 2 (PVS2; 15% w/v ethylene glycol, 15% w/v dimethyl sulfoxide, 30% w/v glycerol, and 13.7% w/v sucrose in half strength media salts) as a cryoprotectant. PVS2 exposures of 15 or 30 min at 0 degrees C resulted in an average regrowth of 34% across five jerusalem artichoke cultivars after liquid nitrogen exposure. Jerusalem artichokes can be successfully maintained using both reduced temperature and cryopreservation approaches.