Abstract: A vitrification protocol for cryopreservation of ECSs of banana cultivars was investegated. ECSs of 3 banana cultivars，Baxijiao，Beida Aijiao and Yueyoukang 1，were successfully cryopreserved and the relative survival rates of cells obtained were 89.6%，90.9% and 89.9%，respectively. ECS was successfully re-established using cryopreserved cells of Beida Aijiao. Plants regenerated from cryopreserved ECSs of the 3 cultivars，and the relative regeneration rates obtained were 64.4%，0.9% and 14.0% respectively. The genetic stability in morphology and molecular biology of banana seedlings regenerated from cryopreserved cells through embryogenesis were studied using ‘Baxijiao’. The results showed that there was no distinct difference in morphology between treatment and the control. ISSR molecular marker analysis also demonstrated that there were no different bands between the treatment and the control，which suggested that cryopreserved ECSs of banana were genetic stable.

Key words: banana, embryogenic cell suspension, cryopreservation by vitrification, plant regeneration, genetic stability