Do you have any tips for long term storage of sodium alginate beads - including shoot tip, somatic embryo etc.-, whether at room temperature or at 2-4 C in fridge?
One option is use of minimal growth media, but best option is cryostorage. Please see this paper http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0734975009000767
The short-medium storage is possible by using encapsulated explants in many species at 4°C. Our experiences were conducted on apple, kiwifruit, lilum and olive.
Now we are collaborating with a local nursery interested to use the synthetic seed also to store the micropropagated cultures during the aseptic production and I'm studying the use of room temperature or 7-8°C.
For very long storage I agree for cryopreservation.