Living culture collection

In addition to preserved dried specimens we also maintain living cultures of plant pathogens and other fungi and bacteria, such as beneficial or commercially important species and strains. We have over 6,000 cultures, some dating as far back as the 1970s.

We preserve these cultures in three different methods, at cool temperatures on a nutrient jelly called agar, at -80°C in special cryopreservation beads, or freeze dried. Researchers use our cultures for studies such as host-pathogen interactions and looking for certain biological traits that may have commercial applications.

Our cultures are available for purchase, and we also offer preservation services, please see our collection services page.