About

Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AMs) are symbiotic associations established between roots of most land plant and certain soil borne fungi in the phylum Glomeromycota. This AM fungi improves the supply of water and nutrients (specifically phosphates), because of the hyphal network formed that connects the plant to the soil, and explores inaccessible zones to the roots.

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Biological studies of AM fungi are difficult because of their obligate biotrophic nature, being unable to complete their life cycle in absence of a host plant. The use of root organ cultures in vitro as a suitable host allows the establishment of the symbiosis and the formation of thousand viable spores and abundant extraradical mycelium, ensuring monospecificity of inoculum and absence of undesirable microorganisms.

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Due to great interest in the study of AM association, and our concern to preserve native diversity of AM fungi, we have developed a bank of germplasm in vitro of AM fungi using Ri T-DNA transformed carrot roots as host.

Banco de Glomeromycota In vitro (BGIV) allow us to conserve and document AM fungal strains isolated from diverse natural and agricultural areas from Argentina. We also provide high quality, free of contaminant germplasm for scientific and industrial sectors.

Latest update

BGIV recognized by the World Data Center for microorganism (WDCM)

May 12, 2010, by Dra. Vanesa Analía Silvani

In early 2010, the Bank of Glomeromycota In Vitro (BGIV) has been recorded at the World Data Center for Microorganisms (WDCM), an organization dedicated to registering and maintaining a comprehensive database of culture collections around the world. The World Federation for Culture Collection (WFCC) started this database in the 60's, and today, the WDCM is directed by the National Institute on of Genetics (NIG) in Japan, which until now has 575 registered culture collections from 68 countries. In Argentina, 10 collections have been cataloged and recognized by the WDCM, now including BGIV. The register contains information about the organization, services and scientific interests of BGIV, including a list of species that comprise it. For more information, visit World Federation for Culture Collection website.