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National Agriculturally Important Microbial Culture Collection in the Global Context of Microbial Culture Collection Centres

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. D. J. Bagyaraj, CNBRCD, Bengaluru for critical reading and suggestions given to improve the quality of the manuscript. SKS is grateful to Dr. D. L. N. Rao, ICAR-IISS, Bhopal for his encouragement to consolidate information on importance of culture collections that deal with agriculture including algal culture collections developed by Prof. E. G. Pringsheim. The authors express their gratitude to Dr. Manjit Singh and Dr. R. C. Upadhyay, ICAR-Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan, H.P, India for their help in transfer of mushroom cultures to NAIMCC. We thankfully acknowledge the contribution and input of Dr. David Smith, Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), Egham, Surrey TW20 9TY, United Kingdom, in the final draft of MS. They are thankful to Mr. Alok Upadhyay, Senior Technician for his time to time help in providing information relating to NAIMCC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Agriculturally Important Microbial Culture Collection (NAIMCC), ICAR- National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms, Kushmaur, Maunath Bhanjan, Uttar Pradesh, 275103, India

    Sushil K. Sharma, Sandeep Saini, Ankita Verma, Pawan K. Sharma, Manish Roy, Udai B. Singh, Anil K. Saxena & Arun K. Sharma

  2. Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India

    Rup Lal

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  1. Sushil K. Sharma
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Correspondence to Sushil K. Sharma.

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Significance statement

The paper traces history of microbial culture collections and highlights role of the National Agriculturally Important Microbial Culture Collection (NAIMCC) in conservation of microorganisms for their utilization in agriculture and allied sectors. It also underpins the problems relating to sharing of microbial resources among different countries.

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Sharma, S.K., Saini, S., Verma, A. et al. National Agriculturally Important Microbial Culture Collection in the Global Context of Microbial Culture Collection Centres. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 89, 405–418 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-017-0882-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-017-0882-8

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