Cryopreservation of Thymbra spicata L. var. spicata and genetic stability assessment of the cryopreserved shoot tips after conservation

The present study aims to introduce endangered thymbra spicata l. to cryopreservation and to assess genetic stability of shoot tips after cryopreservation using amplified fragment length polymorphism (aflp) technique. for the cryopreservation experiments,vitrification and droplet vitrification techniques were examined. in the first vitrification experiment,highest survival (80%) and regrowth (35%) rates were obtained in shoot tips exposed to 2- stepwise application of plant vitrification solution (pvs) technique. results of the second experiment showed that,60 min. was the best duration for loading the explants with the loading solution before exposure to pvs2 as it yielded the highest survival and regrowth rates ( 85,45% ) after cryopreservation. moreover,in the third experiment,2 m glycerol + 0.4 m sucrose had proven to be the best formula as a loading solution compared to the results obtained in the other combinations. additionally,in the fourth experiment,the highest survival and regrowth percentages (75,35%) were obtained in explants treated with pvs2 compared to results obtained in tips treated with other pvs solution types. in droplet vitrification experiment,the highest survival and regrowth rates (80,35%) were recorded in explants exposed to pvs2 for (45 min.). meanwhile,no genetic differences were detected in the shoot tips before and after cryopreservation.