Abstract
Understanding the metabolic and evolutionary patterns of microorganisms has played a pivotal role in the development of agriculture, industry and health sectors. Therefore, for the ex situ conservation of the microbial diversity, microbial culture collections also known as Biobanks or Microbial Resource Centres remain the most important scientific infrastructure. This review describes the history and evolution of microbial culture collections and the growth of the global community of collections through the activities of the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC). In addition, it highlights the roles of culture collections in assisting research and development including the role of an International Depository Authority recognized under Budapest Treaty. Furthermore, the status of microbial culture collections available in India with emphasis on collection of agriculturally important microbes has been investigated. National Agriculturally Important Microbial Culture Collection is a designated national repository established at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Maunath, Bhanjan, Uttar Pradesh, India in 2004 and is an affiliate member of WFCC (WDCM-1060) which currently encompasses over 6000 well characterized strains of bacteria, cyanobacteria, fungi etc. The deposited microorganisms are being used as bioinoculants, biopesticides and for management of soil fertility, biotic and abiotic stresses in crops for sustainable production.
Published Version
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