Elena Popova

Institute of Plant Physiology of Russian Academy of Sciences

Plant genetic resources (PGRs) are perhaps the most precious gift of nature to humanity: they provide food, shelter, medicines, and many goods of high economic value, not to mention their key importance for healthy ecosystems and their aesthetic value [...]

Introduction Panax vietnamensis is a valuable medicinal plant and a source of a broad spectrum of biologically active ginsenosides of different structural groups. Overexploitation and low adaptability to planation cultivation have made this species vulnerable to human pressure and prompted the development of cell cultivation in vitro as a sustainab...

The cultivation of plant cells in large-scale bioreactor systems has long been considered a promising alternative for the overexploitation of wild plants as a source of bioactive phytochemicals. This idea, however, faced multiple constraints upon realization, resulting in very few examples of technologically feasible and economically effective biot...

Progressive loss of plant diversity requires the protection of wild and agri-/horticultural species. For species whose seeds are extremely short-lived, or rarely or never produce seeds, or whose genetic makeup must be preserved, cryopreservation offers the only possibility for long-term conservation. At temperatures below freezing, most vegetative...

An environmentally friendly, resource-efficient substitute for the production of vegetative biomass and the bioactive components of medicinal plants is provided by novel biotechnology-based suspension cells cultured in bioreactors. Despite the cultured biomass is produced in the controlled conditions, it requires detailed chemical analysis and toxi...

Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms, or Ming aralia, is a medicinal plant of the Araliaceae family, which is highly valued for its antitoxic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-asthmatic, adaptogenic, and other properties. The plant can be potentially used to treat diabetes and its complications, ischemic brain damage, and Parkinson’s dis...

Cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen (LN, −196 °C) is a unique option for the long-term conservation of threatened plant species with non-orthodox or limitedly available seeds. In previous studies, a systematic approach was used to develop a droplet-vitrification (DV) cryopreservation protocol for Postemon yatabeanus shoot tips that includes precult...

Ex situ collections of algae, cyanobacteria, and plant materials (cell cultures, hairy and adventitious root cultures, shoots, etc.) maintained in vitro or in liquid nitrogen (−196 °C, LN) are valuable sources of strains with unique ecological and biotechnological traits. Such collections play a vital role in bioresource conservation, science, and...

Cryopreservation is an effective option for the long-term conservation of plant genetic resources, including vegetatively propagated crops and ornamental plants, elite tree genotypes, threatened plant species with non-orthodox seeds or limited seed availability, as well as cell and root cultures useful for biotechnology. With increasing success, an...

The genus Ajuga (Lamiaceae) is rich in medicinally important species with biological activities ranging from anti-inflammatory, antitumor, neuroprotective, and antidiabetic to antibacterial, antiviral, cytotoxic, and insecticidal effects. Every species contains a unique and complex mixture of bioactive metabolites—phytoecdysteroids (PEs), iridoid g...

Callus and suspension cell cultures were successfully developed from Sutherlandia frutescens (Fabaceae), an endemic medicinal plant of South Africa. Two callus cell lines, originating from hypocotyl and cotyledon explants of in vitro seedlings under both dark and light conditions, showed intensive fresh weight accumulation with growth index ranging...

Obesity, and its consequences for human health, is a huge and complicated problem that has no simple solution. The constant search for natural and safe compounds with systemic action that can be used for obesity prophylactics and treatment is hampered by the limited availability and variable quality of biomass of wild medicinal plants. Plant cell b...

This review addresses a frequently encountered problem of designing an effective cryopreservation procedure for new (not previously cryopreserved) or difficult plant materials. This problem hinders worldwide efforts of applying cryopreservation across a wide genetic base of wild and a number of cultivated plants. We review recent advances in modifi...

This study provides alternative approaches toward ex situ conservation by means of in vitro seed germination and the multiplication of Penthorum chinense Pursh using nodal explants. An overlay of a liquid medium on top of a gelled medium significantly increased the growth of shoots and roots, while the presence of activated charcoal or growth regul...

This review addresses a frequently encountered problem of designing an effective cryopreservation procedure for new (not previously cryopreserved) or difficult plant materials. This problem hinders worldwide efforts of applying cryopreservation across a wide genetic base of wild and a number of cultivated plants. We review recent advances in modifi...

Free access until February 18, 2022 using the link: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1eKcR3Iipnqbzj Cell culture of Panax spp. is a potent sustainable source of biologically active triterpene glycosides (ginsenosides) specific for this genus. In this study, growth and biosynthetic profiles were investigated for P. japonicus suspension cell culture m...

In the present study, we explored the therapeutic potential of bioreactor-grown cell cultures of the medicinal plant species Dioscorea deltoidea, Tribulus terrestris and Panax japonicus to treat carbohydrate metabolism disorders (CMDs) in laboratory rats. In the adrenaline model of hyperglycemia, aqueous suspensions of cell biomass pre-administered...

Cryopreservation provides a secure long-term conservation option for rare and endangered plant species with non-orthodox or limitedly available seeds. Wide application of cryopreservation to biobank wild flora is hampered by the need to re-optimize nearly all protocol steps for every new species. We applied a systematic approach to simplify optimiz...

Background: Pogostemon yatabeanus, synonym Dysophylla yatabeana, (Labiatae) is an endangered wild species in Korea. It has has a limited natural habitat and requires urgent conservation measures. Objective: To develop an efficient cryopreservation protocol using in vitro shoot tips to complement traditional conservation approaches in case seeds...

A detailed UPLC-ESI-MS study was performed on secondary metabolites in the biomass of a suspension plant cell culture of Turkmenian mandrake ( Mandragora turcomanica Mizgir.), which has been maintained for over 30 years. Both compounds widespread in plants (amides of hydroxycinnamic acids with putrescine and feruloyltyramine) and very rare metaboli...

Cell suspension of a medicinal plant Polyscias filicifolia recovered after 5 years of cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen (− 196 °C) was cultured in 250 ml flasks and laboratory (20-l), pilot (75-l) and industrial (630-l) bioreactors operated under batch and semi-continuous regimes. Growth parameters of the recovered cell culture were compared to t...

Dioscorea deltoidea is a medicinal plant valued for its high content of steroidal glycosides (SG) – bioactive compounds with cardioprotective and immunomodulation actions, also used to treat reproductive system disorders. To overcome the limitations of natural resources of this species, a suspension cell culture of D. deltoidea was developed as a r...

Cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen (− 196 °C) ensures safe and cost-effective conservation of plant genetic resources using diverse materials, including roots. To date, successful cryopreservation of root explants isolated from in vitro grown plants as well as adventitious and hairy root cultures has been reported in large numbers of plant species...

В обзоре рассматриваются принципы становления и формирования коллекций культур клеток и тканей высших растений in vitro как варианта генетических коллекций, анализируются современное состояние и перспективные возможности использования коллекций в исследованиях особенностей и закономерностей синтеза биологически активных веществ высших растений, рас...

This paper reviews the role of plant cell culture as a biotechnological tool in preserving the botanical diversity of higher plants while meeting the growing demand of the commercial market for large volumes of plant raw material. The prospects of plant cell-based technology are discussed in the framework of creating an economy of sustainable devel...

Conservation of threatened flora in genetic collections ex situ using in vitro culture and cryopreservation is receiving an increasing recognition as a complementary strategy to in situ conservation in natural habitats. The present study is focused on an integrated approach which involves conservation and propagation, emphasizing the usefulness of...

Orchids are exceptionally vulnerable to climatic changes and destruction of natural habitats. Many orchid species become extinct at both national and global levels, and their conservation is a matter of critical importance. In vitro and cryobiotechnology approaches are effectively used to establish medium-term and long-term collections of threatene...

Orchids are exceptionally vulnerable to climatic changes and destruction of natural habitats. Many orchid species become extinct at both national and global levels, and their conservation is a matter of critical importance. In vitro and cryobiotechnology approaches are effectively used to establish medium-term and long-term collections of threatene...

The full version can be viewed at https://rdcu.be/bKVOL In this study, an effective root-based cryopreservation method was developed for Hypericum perforatum L., an important medicinal species, using in vitro plants. A systematic approach was applied to determine effective combinations of protocol steps such as preculture, osmoprotection, vitrifica...

The history of CGIAR and the development and implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (“Plant Treaty”) are closely intertwined. In accordance with the agreements that 11 CGIAR centers signed with the Plant Treaty's Governing Body under Article 15 of the treaty, >730,000 accessions of crop, tree,...

Background: Aster altaicus var. uchiyamae Kitam is an endemic and endangered species in urgent need of a comprehensive conservation strategy. Objective: To develop an efficient cryopreservation protocol using in vitro shoot tips to complement traditional conservation approaches in case seeds are not available or insufficient for conservation pro...

In this study conservation of Castilleja levisecta Greenm., a globally endangered species was addressed through in vitro cryopreservation of shoot tips. In vitro cultures were successfully established using seedlings received from British Columbia, Canada. Shoot tips excised from in vitro propagated plants were cryopreserved using a droplet-vitrifi...

Golden paintbrush (Castilleja levisecta Greenm.) is a hemiparasitic herbaceous perennial native to the Pacific Northwest of North America and is considered critically imperilled with only 11 populations remaining in the wild. The main objective of this study was to develop ex situ and in situ conservation through micropropagation and field planting...

Cherry birch (Betula lenta L.) is an endangered species in Canada, with only a single natural population of 18 trees found in the Niagara region of Ontario. The tree was reportedly used for medicinal purposes by First Nations and Native American peoples. The current study describes a cryopreservation method for seeds and in vitro shoot tips of B. l...

Background: Despite its self-pollinating characteristics, Korean ginseng germplasm is mainly maintained in clonal gene banks as there is no defined approach to the long-term conservation of its seed, including the most appropriate stage of embryo development for storage. Objective: The aim of this study was to reveal the effect of embryo develop...

Conservation of Prunus padus L., a tree of high ecological and pharmacological importance, has been evaluated by storing seeds at subzero (−20 °C and −80 °C) and cryogenic (−196 °C) temperatures for various durations. The effect of the seed’s water content (WC) ranging from 3.5% to 21.1%, fresh weight basis, and the effect of cooling and rewarming...

Plant biodiversity is crucial for sustaining human life on our planet. More than 50,000 species are used globally for food, feed, fi ber, medicine and horticulture. A wide range of plant-based biotechnological systems such as isolated root cultures, embryogenic cell and tissue cultures and cell suspensions are used in breeding programs, forestry an...

Background: The efficiency of long-term cryogenic storage to prevent somaclonal variations in plant cell cultures and retain their major cytogenetic and biochemical traits remains under debate. In particular, it is not clear how stress conditions associated with cryopreservation, such as low temperature, dehydration and toxic action of some cryopr...

Plant cell culture is traditionally viewed as a unique artificially created biological system representing a heterogenous population of dedifferentiated cells. This system undergoes a continuous process of autoselection based on the intensity and stability of cell proliferation. We discuss here the details of formation and regulation of isoprenoid...

Although an appropriate cryopreservation protocol is a prerequisite for basic studies and large-scale implementation as well as further cryopreservation studies, the process often rely on trial and error. This presentation proposes a set of treatments to develop droplet-vitrification using a standard procedure associated with additional treatments...

Biodiversity conservation programmes are underpinned by seed banking following drying to low water contents (WC), and supported by both the assessment and prediction of seed viability over time. The means of judging viability is thus crucial to the comprehension of seed vigour. We selected seeds of three species and one hybrid in the Salicaceae lik...

A systematic approach using a set of 13 treatments was applied to develop a dropletvitrification protocol for Rubia akane hairy roots, based on their responses to preculture, loading, dehydration and cooling/rewarming steps. The roots were very sensitive to osmotic stress induced by both preculture in liquid sucrose-enriched medium (up to 0.5 M suc...

A cryopreservation protocol has been developed for embryogenic callus cultures of castor aralia (Kalopanax septemlobus), a deciduous tree which is widely used in oriental medicine and in landscape design. Three preculture treatments, four loading and six vitrification solutions were tested in a vitrification procedure. Preculture of embryogenic cal...

We investigated the effects of desiccation, rehydration and cryopreservation on the viability of seeds of a wild mountain species and seven clones of Salix caprea L. Seeds responded differently to all treatments depending on clone, seed initial moisture content (MC) and seed vigour. Fresh seeds of two randomly selected clones tolerated desiccation...

This paper reviews a 10-year experience in establishing a cryopreserved Allium germplasm collection at the genebank of the National Agrobiodiversity Center, Republic of Korea. A systematic approach to Allium cryopreservation included: 1. revealing the most critical factors that affected regeneration after cryostorage; 2. understanding the mechanism...

A droplet-vitrification protocol has been established for cryopreserving Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. Peak using axillary shoot tips and apical shoots of in vitro plants. In the optimized procedure, explants were submitted to a step-wise preculture in liquid sucrose-enriched medium (0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 M for 31,17 and 7 h, respectively). Precultured e...

In plant vitrification protocols, the " loading " treatment, i.e. exposure of explants to a moderately concentrated cryoprotectant solution, precedes the main dehydration step with highly concentrated vitrification solutions in order to reduce their toxicity. This study aimed at developing alternative loading solutions composed of glycerol and sucr...

An efficient protocol for the cryopreservation of madder (Rubia akane Nakai) hairy root cultures was developed using droplet-vitrification and alternative loading and vitrification solutions formulated previously in our laboratory. Among eight preculture treatments tested, the highest post-cryopreservation regeneration was obtained for explants inc...

In this study, cryopreservation of Bratonia (Miltonia flavescens (Lindl.) Lindl. × Brassia longissima (Reichb.) Nash), a hybrid tropical orchid, was achieved using protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) multiplied in vitro. Cryopreservation was performed using a vitrification protocol including pretreatment of PLBs with a loading solution (LS, 2.0 M glycerol...

An efficient protocol for cryopreservation of somatic embryos of Coriandrum sativum, an important spice and medicinal herb, was developed. The successful cryopreservation procedure utilized embryo clumps (ECs) comprised of 3–4 somatic embryos at the globular or heart-shape stage. These ECs were precultured for 3 days on medium supplemented with 100...