Increasing human activities and global environmental
changes are also accelerating the threat of orchid extinction in their natural habitats. In order to improve gene
conservation strategies for these unique species, innovative developments of cryopreservation methodologies
are urgently needed based on an appreciation of low temperature (cryo) stress tolerance, the stimulation of re-
covery growth of plant tissues in vitro and on the ‘omics’ characterization of the targeted cell system (biotechnol-
ogy). The successful development and application of such cryobiotechnology now extends to nearly 100 species
and commercial hybrids of orchids, underpinning future breeding and species conservation programmes. In this
contribution, we provide an overview of the progress in cryobanking of a range of orchid tissues, including seeds,
pollen, protocorms, protocorm-like bodies, apices excised from in vitro plants, cell suspensions, rhizomes and or-
chid fungal symbionts. We also highlight future research needs.