Development of in vitro propagation by node culture and cryopreservation by V-Cryo-plate method for Perilla frutescens

A clonal propagation method by node culture of perilla (Perilla frutescens L. Britton) was investigated. Nodes were plated on solidified 1/2 MS medium with BA and optimum shoot elongation and propagation was obtained at BA 0.05 and 0.1 mg l-1. Cryopreservation using an aluminum cryo-plate was successfully applied to in vitro-grown perilla shoot tips. Excised shoot tips from nodes were precultured on 1/2 MS medium with 0.3 M sucrose and embedded on an aluminum cryo-plate with alginate gel. The cryo-plate with shoot tips was osmo-protected with LS solution and dehydrated in PVS2 for 20 min at 25°C prior to immersion into liquid nitrogen. The recovery growth after cryopreservation was found to be about 80%. This new V-Cryo-plate method has many advantages and may facilitate the cryo-storage of other medicinal plants.