A comparison of some preservation techniques for fungi

Abstract

Of 58 fungi covered in mineral oil in 1950, 47 were viable after 32 years storage and 7 of those not surviving the full period remained viable for 20 years or more. Oil storage remains a useful alternative to liquid-nitrogen storage for isolates of Phytophthora, Pythium , basidiomycetes and mycelial forms which do not readily survive freeze-drying. Storage in anhydrous silica gel was compared with oil, freeze-drying and liquid-nitrogen storage techniques as a cheap alternative. More stable and consistent growth was achieved after storage in silica gel than under oil though the range of fungi surviving was much narrower. Although some of the plectomycetes, hyphomycetes and zygomycetes tested survived 11 years in silica gel in good condition, the technique was not as successful as freeze-drying or liquid-nitrogen storage but was considered to be a useful alternative for laboratories with limited resources or those requiring a simple technique.