In Glomeromycota, the species does not represent the functional unit of the mycorrhizae, since the characteristics used to identify AMF species are located in the subcellular structures of the spore wall, while the functional attributes (for example, P absorption) depend on the characteristics of the fungus as results of root colonization, production of external mycelium, hyphae architecture, etc. This has been widely demonstrated in the literature. For instance, different isolates of Claroideoglomus etunicatum produced different results on coffee growth (Siqueira et al. 1998).
Therefore, each fungal isolate has its own ecological history and collaborators should attempt to include as much information as possible about their cultures or accessions deposited at the CICG. This information is important, especially when fungi isolates were previously used in experiments and their efficiency has been proven, as well as whether they come from under-explored environments for AMF.
This information is important for two reasons:
1. Allow the accumulation of biogeographic information on the germplasm deposited at the CICG, mainly for isolates from Brazilian territory or Latin America,
2. Contribute to decision making in choosing fungal isolates for researchers to test specific hypotheses, make appropriate comparisons, repeat experiments and even accumulate information about their own fungal isolates.
The most important information is:
- Characteristics of the place of origin of the fungal isolate;
- Location (latitude and longitude);
- Host plant or plant community (indicate the associated vegetation if the fungal was not isolated from the rhizosphere of a known host);
- Soil properties (physical and chemical);
- Climate conditions.
In cases where accession (as a fungal isolate or trap culture) was propagated in pots, information about the previous history of the cultivation is important:
- Growth period: Start and harvest date;
- Host plant used for multiplication;
- Physical and chemical properties of the substrate.
If fungal isolates have been used in experiments that was further published in a scientific journal, a list of references would be important as well.
We request that collaborators fill up a Deposit Form (as complete as possible) for each accession that he/she wants to deposit at CICG.