Reference Cultures

At CICG, we adopt the same procedure as INVAM in establishing a reference culture for each species of AMF in the culture collection. The text below adapted from that of INVAM comments on this process.

According to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and the nomenclature rules there is a need to have a type specimen (holotype) for each biological species. These specimens AMF consist primarily of cells represented by asexual spores with a spore wall and, in some cases, with inner germinal walls. These spores often change their appearance and internal structures as a result of the process of senescence and degradation after they are mounted on permanent slides. Furthermore, the holotypes of many AMF species do not reflect the morphology of healthy spores as they were collected from the field and are in poor or parasitized condition (as a result of the description of AMF species being done only with spores collected from the field).

Types may be more useful when compared to healthy spores obtained from an active culture (reference cultures). When placed side by side, both specimens (type and reference culture) can be compared to match the diagnostic characters.

Thus, the reference cultures represent a fungal isolate that can be definitively attributed to a described species (by analyzing the diagnostic morphological characteristics).

To obtain a stable taxonomic organization of accessions in CICG, the spores of a new accession are compared with those of other morphotypes already present in the collection using the following criteria:

- If the access has unique characters, it is established as a reference culture for a possible new species,

- The reference culture receives a binomial name in Latin if it can be definitively attributed to a species described in the literature, using the following criteria:

a) Shared characters in common with a holotype that is in good condition,

b) Close match with a valid species description or redescription,

c) Verification with the identification made by the collaborators who deposited access or consult with other experienced taxonomists,

d) By the author or authors of the species

These criteria have been used to assign reference culture status to a given accession in CICG. All accessions with the same morphological characteristics as those presented by the reference culture are grouped in the same species. These grouping occurs whether the species has been formally described or not. Species with a (?) after the specific epithet indicate the presence of some conflicting morphological character and whose identification is not fully elucidated.

Reference Cultures in CICG:

Acaulospora colombiana SCT115A

Acaulospora koskei SCT954C

Acaulospora mellea MGR522B

Acaulospora morrowiae SCT048B

Acaulospora scrobiculata SCT736C

Acaulospora tuberculata SCT040A

Ambispora leptoticha MGR321G

Archaeospora trappei RRM612

Cetraspora pellucida SCT954B

Claroideoglomus etunicatum SCT101A

Dentiscutata heterogama PNB102A

Dentiscutata biornata MGR320C

Dentiscutata rubra SCT080A

Gigaspora albida SCT200A

Gigaspora decipiens PRN107B

Gigaspora gigantea AMP121A

Gigaspora margarita RJN350A

Gigaspora rosea SPL101A

Paraglomus brasilianum DEF105A

Paraglomus occultum SCT053B

Racocetra gregaria MGR345A

Rhizophagus clarus RJN102A