Workshops on Cryopreservation in Support of the Conservation of European Plant Genetic Resources

Organized by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) (Rome, Italy) in collaboration with the partners of the CRYMCEPT project:

• Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

• University of Abertay Dundee, Dundee, UK

• University of Derby, Derby, UK

• Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Montpellier, France

• Fruit Tree Research Institute, Ciampino, Italy

• DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany

Sponsored by European Union

Venues and date
The First Workshop will be hosted by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Leuven, Belgium), 12–22 September 2005.

The Second Workshop will be hosted by the Institut de recherche pour le développement (Montpellier, France), 10–21 October 2005.

Background
Until recently, cryopreservation protocols were mostly developed following an empirical, trial-and-error approach. This led cryopreservation specialists in Europe and elsewhere to develop various analytical techniques to better describe and understand the biophysical and metabolic processes underlying resistance/sensitivity of plant tissues to cryopreservation. This new approach ensured the development of cryopreservation protocols in a more rational, scientific and cost-effective manner. In 2002 a project entitled “Establishing Cryopreservation Methods for Conserving European Plant Germplasm Collections” (CRYMCEPT) was funded by the European Union (contract number QLK5-CT-2002- 01279) to address an urgent need to develop cryopreservation techniques and protocols for important European plant genetic resources that could not be adequately conserved using conventional methods.

Members of the consortium established in the framework of the CRYMCEPT project include seven European institutions with expertise in different analytical techniques of relevance to cryopreservation. These include research on water thermal behaviour, proteins, sugars, membrane components, polyamines, cytoskeletal proteins and oxidative stress. The uniqueness of the CRYMCEPT project lies with the fact that experts in all these different areas work together to investigate nine target species selected using several analytical tools in parallel. This approach allows faster progress both in the understanding of the mechanisms involved in cryopreservation of plant tissues and in the establishment of cryopreservation protocols for other plant species. More information about the CRYMCEPT project can be found on the project website: www.agr.kuleuven.ac.be/dtp/tro/crymcept/

Target audience of the workshop
The project is funded by the EU’s Fifth Framework Programme for Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources: Key Action 5, ’Sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry and the integrated development of rural areas including mountain areas’ and is targeted at countries participating in this programme. This includes EU member states (currently 25 members) and Framework Programme Associated States. The Framework Programme Associated States are the remaining candidate countries for EU membership (Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey), EFTA-EEA countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway), Israel and Switzerland. In addition, some participants from EU international co-operation target countries (see annexe) will also be considered. The two workshops are intended primarily for professionals (in both the public and the private sector) who are managing, conserving and using plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in eligible countries. The first two days of each workshop are targeted at those having decision-making responsibilities in this field.

Objectives of the workshops
Objectives of the workshops The workshops have two objectives:

• to create awareness among decision-makers on the importance of cryopreservation and how it can be useful effectively to conserve plant genetic resources; and

• to train germplasm collection holders on how to develop and optimise cryopreservation techniques and protocols to more effectively conserve germplasm of importance to their regions, countries and institutions.

At the conclusion of the workshops, participants will have the following knowledge, skills and experiences:

• Good understanding of the principles of cryopreservation, their importance in conservation of plant genetic resources and their relevance for policies and legislation at the international, regional and national levels.

• New knowledge about the mechanism involved in cryopreservation at the cellular level that can be used to develop and further optimise cryopreservation techniques and protocols for crops.

• Practical experience with some of the bioassays needed to develop and optimise cryopreservation techniques.

The workshops will also provide an opportunity to validate cryopreservation techniques and protocols developed by the project for the nine target species covered and will encourage commitment to work in capacity-building at the local, national and/or regional levels.

Workshop structure and content
The two workshops will each have two parts.

Part 1 will be similar in both workshops and will deal with more general discussions of cryopreservation and its importance in the context of wider genetic resources conservation, policy issues and generic cryopreservation strategies/techniques. This is particularly aimed at bringing together decision-makers and technical staff to provide a good insight into cryopreservation. Part 2 will differ between the two workshops, although both will cover analytic tools and bioassays of importance to cryopreservation and provide practical and demonstration sessions.

Leuven workshop:

Cryopreservation protocols:

• Controlled rate freezing

• Encapsulation/dehydration

• Vitrification

• Droplet freezing

Cryobiology issues and corresponding practical session:

• Thermal behaviour of water:

  • Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis
     

• Role of polyamines

  • Extraction and HPLC analysis of polyamines
     

• Importance of membrane composition:

  • Extraction, purification, HPLC and gas chromatography of membrane lipids
     

• Role of proteins

  • 2D PAGE protein analysis
     

• Analysis of the cytoskeleton and cell signalling

  • Western Blotting

Montpellier workshop:

Cryopreservation protocols:

• Controlled rate freezing

• Encapsulation/dehydration

• Vitrification

• Droplet freezing

• Specific seed techniques

Cryobiology issues and corresponding practical session:

• Thermal behaviour of water:

  • Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis
     

• Role of sugars:

  • Extraction and HPLC analysis of soluble sugars
     

• Importance of membrane composition:

  • Extraction, purification, HPLC and gas chromatography of membrane lipids
     

• Oxidative stress:

  • Assays for detecting free radical damage and antioxidant defence mechanisms

Participants will receive a training manual in advance of the workshop containing background information about the workshops, fundamentals of cryobiology and plant genetic resources and more technical information on cryopreservation protocols and analytical techniques.
Participants will be able to choose which workshop they would prefer to attend.

Application
DDecision-makers and scientists from the target audience detailed above are invited to apply for either of the two workshops. Decision-makers should hold a key position that influences policy decisions relating to plant genetic resources within the home institute or country.

Applicants should hold at least an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject area and have prior experience in conservation of germplasm collections and have a good understanding of in vitro and cryopreservation techniques. He or she should be able to communicate well in English.

Application forms may be downloaded at the end of this page or requested to:

Dr Ehsan Dulloo
Email: e.dulloo@cgiar.org
IPGRI, Via dei Tre Denari 472/a,
00057 Maccarese,
Rome, Italy;
Fax: (39)0661979661

Applications must be in English and should include a letter indicating why the workshop would be beneficial to the applicant and their institution and how the skills and knowledge will be applied, a completed application form, full curriculum vitae and a letter of support from the home institute (which should specify how the skills and experience gained will be applied to the benefit of the institute and/or country).

Applications should be sent by mail, fax or email to the above address. Applications must be received at IPGRI by 31 March 2005. The successful applicants will be informed by 31 May 2005. 

Cost of participation
The cost of participation in the workshop (in Euros) will be: Course Registration:

• € 200,00 per person for Part 1 (policy session)

• € 575,00 per person for the full workshop (Parts 1 and 2)*

* The registration fee includes admission to the training sessions, training materials, practical work and a workshop dinner. In addition, participants will be expected to pay for their own travel to the workshop venue and provide for their own subsistence.

Financial Support
The project will provide financial support to at least 10 applicants per workshop.
Requests for financial support should be submitted to IPGRI on the application form by 31 March 2005. Preference will be given to applicants coming from eligible public research institutions.
Requests received after the deadline will not be considered. Decisions on support requests will be communicated individually to the concerned persons before 31 May 2005. Policy-makers would be expected to fund themselves.

Download Announcement
Download Workshop Form

Contacts
For further information contact: