Polyphasic identification and preservation of fungal diversity: Concepts and applications

Abstract

Fungi are a diverse group of unique eukaryotic organisms currently accepted as the Eumycota kingdom. The (under) estimated number of fungal species is 1.5 × 106 of which only a small number have been identified (ca. 8-10%). They are ubiquitous in nature with an extraordinary ability to decompose plant wastes while also causing much spoilage of food and other relevant commodities. Certain species are used directly as food and others in the manufacture of foodstuffs, antibiotics, enzymes, organic acids and alcohol. Still others can infect humans, animals and crops. Information about each microorganism (e.g. morphological and molecular descriptions, including modern spectral data - MALDI-TOF MS, physiological and biochemical features, ecological roles, and societal risks or benefits) is the key element in fungal identification. In order to attain a sound fungal identification a polyphasic approach is required. It is achieved through the integration of all biological traits data. Fungal service culture collections have well established management systems and preservation techniques that are of elemental importance and guarantee the proper identification and characterisation of environmental fungal isolates. They also assure the continuity of taxonomic and comparative studies and fungal availability for biotechnological exploitation. To foster bio-economy and sustain the biotechnological developments new demands for quality control of fungal holdings preserved in culture collections are in course. The quality control system is associated with new guidelines for the culture collections to operate at global level and to adapt the traditional fungal repositories into the new OECD concept of Biological Resource Centres (BRCs).