A cryopreservation technology that allows for the long-term storage of pear tree genetic resources at ultra-low temperatures. (Image courtesy of the Rural Development Administration)
JEONJU, Mar. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – The Rural Development Administration (RDA) of South Korea has announced the development of a cryopreservation technology that allows for the long-term storage of pear tree genetic resources at ultra-low temperatures.
The key to this technology is preserving genetic material in liquid nitrogen at an extreme low temperature of minus 196 degrees Celsius, where biological reactions cease, and then reviving it with a high success rate.
Previous attempts by the RDA to develop gene preservation techniques using chemical capsules yielded low revival rates, hindering their practical application.
This latest research was a collaborative effort between the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences and the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, both under the RDA’s umbrella.
Through extensive studies, the research team successfully froze and revived pear plant samples using a multi-stage freezing process. The revival rate achieved was an impressive 60% to 80%, significantly surpassing the international standard of 40%.
Preserved pear plant samples (Image courtesy of the Rural Development Administration)
Additionally, the researchers developed a technique to facilitate easy rooting of the revived plants in greenhouses after cryopreservation. This method increases the rooting rate from the previous 0% to 30% range to a maximum of 87%, enabling more stable transplantation.
Starting this year, the RDA plans to utilize these technologies to preserve pear tree genetic resources at risk of loss due to pests, diseases, or weather-related disasters.
Over the past two decades, the RDA has developed cryopreservation techniques for various crops, preserving 1,837 genetic resources, including potatoes, garlic, and strawberries, in liquid nitrogen tanks for long-term storage.
“Unlike crops like rice, where seeds can be stored in low-temperature storage facilities, field-grown genetic resources like pear trees face a higher risk of loss,” explained Ahn Byung-ok, director of the RDA’s Agricultural Genetic Resources Center. “We expect this newly developed technology to establish a secure system for preserving genetic resources.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
