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Richard
A. Humber, Insect Mycologist
Karen S. Hansen, Biological Technician
Micheal M. Wheeler, Biological Technician
General information:
The ARSEF culture collection is the world's largest and most
diverse collection of cultures for fungal pathogens of insects,
mites, spiders, nematodes, and other invertebrates. This collection
is an internationally recognized research resource providing clients
around the world with cultures, identifications, and information
on entomopathogenic fungi.
The collection currently comprises nearly 6000 isolates from more
than 400 fungal taxa and ca. 930 diverse hosts, with isolates
coming from every continent of the globe. ARSEF accessions of
many taxa represent the only cultures of these fungi available
anywhere. Such commonly encountered entomopathogens such as Beauveria
bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are each represented
by nearly 1000 accessions from extremely varied hosts and locations.
No other culture collection offers either such diversity or depth
of holdings as does the ARSEF collection.
The collection is maintained principally by immersion in liquid
nitrogen. A long-term program has been instituted, however, to
expand overall storage capacity by freeze-drying (lyophilizing)
all those fungi ­p; primarily conidial fungi ­p; that can
tolerate such treatment. Cryogenic storage remains the storage
method of choice for many fungi, and may be the only technique
for storing the most delicate or fastidious fungal entomopathogens.
Catalogs for the ARSEF Culture Collection (PDF format)
Printed catalog - An extensively indexed, printed catalog of ARSEF accessions
was issued in 1992 and is available free of charge on request to the curator.
Updates and special catalogs compiled according to any desired search criteria
can be compiled on request. We have discontinued the preparation of indexed
supplements to the 1992 printed catalog; contact the Curator if you wish to
receive such a file.
On-line accession information - Accession data for some of the ARSEF
collection are available from the Microbial Germplasm Database , and may eventually
become available from a new microbial germplasm database at the USDA-ARS
Germplasm Resources Information Network .
A changeable and changing gallery of aides for your identification of fungal pathogens of invertebrates This will include photos, keys, reprints and other helpful items. Feel free to submit suggestions for what you would like to see here! Look here for a changing variety of materials to assist you in the process of identifying fungal pathogens affecting invertebrates. |
Look here for a changing variety of materials to assist you in the process of identifying fungal pathogens affecting invertebrates.