EN
Conventional breeding methods are now supplemented by modern in vitro techniques. However, long term maintenance of cultures has many disadvantages. It incurs risk of loss through microbial contamination, somaclonal variation or human error, but above all the regeneration capacity can decrease gradually during extended maintenance. Cryopreservation as a method of long term storage of biological material without genetic alteration was adapted for embryogenic triticale calli preservation. Callus of both winter and spring genotypes were successfully cryopreserved. The best viability rates (80-85 %) were achieved with 6 weeks old winter genotypes treated with cryoprotective solution containing DMSO. This simple and efficient method of cryopreservation requires no special devices for controlled freezing and can be easily adapted for other cereals.