Abstract: Encapsulation-vitrification, a new method for cryopreservation of plant germplasm in recent years, was developed on the basis of vitrification and encapsulation-dehydration. It has many advantages over vitrification and encapsulation-dehydration, because more materials can be treated at the same time, growth is recovered more rapidly after treatment, it is less harmful to the material, and allows for a higher shoot regeneration rate. It has been successfully used to preserve more than 20 species, such as pear, horseradish and wasabi, and shows great application potential in the preservation of plant germplasm resources. This paper introduces the development and advantages of encapsulation-vitrification and the main methods and procedures such as preculture, encapsulation, dehydration, thawing and recovery of culture. The effects of freezing protection and the genetic stability of plant materials preserved with encapsulationvitrification are discussed as well. Further research on encapsulation-vitrification of plant tissue is also suggested.