Technical Abstract: The NPGS clonal collection consists of about 30,000 accessions from over 56 genera of crops and over 100 genera used for ornamental purposes. These plants are propagated vegetatively because the species is highly outcrossing, making it difficult to maintain desirable genotypes through sexual reproduction, or the species does not easily produce flowers and seeds. Most of these accessions are maintained in field plots in 25 locations throughout the US. Backing up accessions through cryogenic storage would safeguard these valuable genetic resources. Identifying propagules that can easily be regenerated but tolerate the stresses incurred from cryoexposure is necessary. Technology exists to cryopreserve dormant buds or in vitro shoot tips and efforts are underway to make protocols generally adaptable to a wide range of species.