Investigation on cryopreservation possibilities of some cyclamen species endemic to Turkey

Conservation of plant genetic resources and their biodiversity is extremely important because of the speed at which plant species are disappearing from our planet. Cyclamen belonging to the genus Magnoliopsida, order Ericales and family Primulaceae, is being considered as an important endemic plant to Turkey. Cryopreservation gains importance as an alternative and efficient technique to conservate genetic sources in recent years. In this study the possibilites of conservation of three endemic cyclamen species (Cyclamen cilicicum Boiss &Heldr, Cyclamen mirabile Hildebr and Cyclamen pseud-ibericum) using the cryopreservation technique, were invastigated. The best hormone combinations (within primer regeneatiın media) for callus formaton for Cyclamen cilicicum Boiss & Heldr; 2 mg L-1 2,4-D + 1.5 mg L-1 2IP, for Cyclamen mirabile Hildebr; 2 mg L-1 2,4-D + 2 mg L-1 2IP and for Cyclamen pseudon syibericum; 2.5 mg L-1 2,4-D + 1mg L-1 2IP were obtained. The best callus formation ratios were all The vitrification method was used during cryopreservation. The best callus formation was observed at leaves and pedicels explants for each genotype. The results were discussed and compared considering callus formation ratio, survival ratio after cryopreservation and callus forms.