<span name="style_bold">Techniques for <span name="style_italic">in vitro </span>conservation and their use for establishing germplasm banks of tropical crops. </span>The aim of this literature review is to describe the main techniques for short and long term germplasm conservation. These techniques allow establishment of germplasm banks. This article focuses on their use in tropical crops. <span name="style_italic">in vitro </span>conservation and their use for establishing germplasm banks of tropical crops. <span name="style_italic">In vitro </span>preservation techniques have allowed conservation of plant genetic resources for further use in plant breeding, research and food security purposes. Several research centers have used these techniques for tissue and seed storage of tropical crops, mainly for those that are difficult to preserve conventionally.preservation techniques have allowed conservation of plant genetic resources for further use in plant breeding, research and food security purposes. Several research centers have used these techniques for tissue and seed storage of tropical crops, mainly for those that are difficult to preserve conventionally.

Cryopreservation; tissue culture; phytogenetic resources