METLA Cryopreservation laboratory
Technical information Practicalities TA feedback
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The TNA holder has indicated that this infrastructure would remain accessible also after the Trees4Future end-of-project, however the applicant would have to bear costs. Potential users are invited to enquire directly with the site manager for agreement on accessibility and related costs. |
Type of facility: Cryopreservation equipment / laboratory
Keywords: cryopreservation, gene conservation, slow cooling, tissue culture, vitrification, tree breeding, genetic resources
Who would find this useful? Genetic conservation programmes, forest research community, horticultural research community, plant science research community, plant producers/nurseries, tree breeders
"Both facilities at the METLA Punkaharju Unit are well equipped, and the staff is highly qualified, efficient and very supportive. They taught me new skills that can be applied in my own research."
About the facility: The Metla Punkaharju Research Unit provides excellent facilitites for cryopreservation of different types, of both tissue cultured and in vivo- samples. The development and testing of different cryopreservation protocols can be performed within the facility. A quality system according to SFS-EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard is applied to cryopreservation work.
Birches regenerated from cryopreserved buds. Photo: Jouko Lehto.
Access to the Metla Vegetative Propagation facility at the same laboratory provides an opportunity for subsequent regeneration of cryostored materials, or for pretreatment of in vitro-samples to be cryopreserved. The Punkaharju ISS infrastructure can also be used as a source of sample materials for cryopreservation studies.
A TA user will gain experience with using cryopreservation equipment for their materials. The minimum output is a set of data (raw data) on the studied topic; analysed data are more typical. In addition to data sets, typically also either cryopreserved samples, or regenerated tissue cultures or plants are produced. Research reports, or in some cases even a manuscript for submission to international scientific journals, are possible.
What does the TA programme offer? A visit lasting from two weeks to several months, depending on the research topic. Before arrival, a work plan will be agreed.
- A guest can arrive with his/her own biological samples or material to be used in cryopreservation studies. Alternatively, the Punkaharju ISS Infrastructure can be utilised as a sample source.
- During the stay, the guest performs freezing and thawing of his/her samples, followed by viability assays and/or regeneration experiments, supported by the guidance of the host scientist and technicians.
(Note that more extensive pretreatments of in vitro –sample materials or regeneration experiments using cryopreserved samples also require access to Metla's Vegetative Propagation infrastructure.)
Results are collected in or converted to computer files. Data analysis and interpretation are based on in-house experience with software available. If possible, reports and manuscripts will be prepared while the guest is still at the site, or by email exchange afterwards.
More information
Location: Punkaharju, Finland
Technical information about the facility
