The use of tissue culture techniques in the conservation of plant biodiversity

The loss of plant genetic resources, of both cultivated and wild species, has made necessary the development of new ex situ conservation techniques to guarantee their preservation. Situations in which in vitro conservation methods offer a suitable alternative are described. A general overview of these procedures is also presented, including micropropagation, in vitro conservation and cryopreservation. The importance of carrying out studies on the genetic stability of the stored material and on the genetic diversity of the initial plant source is discussed. Some of the possible methods employed in these kind of studies are stated.