Identification

The Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures offers a service to identify isolates and specimens of fungi and bacteria. CBS has experts for all major groups of fungi and the knowledge of its staff guarantees identification of cultures at the state of the art. Many isolates can be identified using phenotypic characters as morphology, colony patterns etc. However, methods for molecular identifications are available and will be used if appropriate. Isolates will be identified on the species level, if possible. However, if strains remain sterile, belong to an undescribed species or if no reference sequence data are available the higher taxon affinities will be determined as accurately as possible using sequence data.

In most cases the sender receives the results of the identification after four to six weeks. This time is determined by the period isolates need to develop structures necessary for identification on our media. Some taxa may need a longer period and sometimes additionial research is necessary, in which cases the identification will take longer. For urgent services, contact us before sending material.

Strains submitted for identification should be pure and sent on agar slants. Cultures invaded by mites are destroyed immediately on arrival to avoid infestation of the fungal collections at the CBS. Strains which prove to be a mixture of different species are usually purified at an extra charge. Please indicate the source of isolation, host plant, conditions for cultivation (medium, temperature, UV-light) and any other data that might be helpful for a fast and correct identification.

Please send all your cultures by air-mail and ensure they are well packed to avoid breakage of the tubes. Pathogenic strains should be packed according to the international prescriptions (www.who.int, www.wfcc.info, www.unece.org and www.iata.org (pages on dangerous goods transport regulations). Label your parcel: "FUNGAL CULTURE, NO COMMERCIAL VALUE".

Confidentiality: CBS will carry out the identifications on a strictly confidential basis. Strains sent for identification will be destroyed after completing the investigations. However, your strains might be of interest for our culture collection. In such a case your approval will be specifically requested prior to inclusion of the strain in our collection.