The Q-bank Fungi database contains DNA sequence data (barcodes), morphological, phenotypical and ecological data of more than 450 species that are of relevance to mycological phytopathology. Currently, the database focuses on members, especially those of quarantine importance to Europe and their closest relatives, of the fungal genera Phoma and associated genera (304 species), Colletotrichum (18 species), Mycosphaerella and its anamorphs (41 species; sequence data only), Monilinia (7 species; sequence data only), Ceratocystis (30 species; sequence data only), Stenocarpella (6 species; sequence data only) and the Oomycete genus Phytophthora (75 species). Besides plant pathogens these genera also contain many opportunistic and saprophytic organisms. For correct identification of the causal agent of a disease, it is important that one can distinguish between these different organisms.
Identification of fungi relies heavily on sequence information in public online databases. The Q-bank fungal databases only contain data of properly documented strains that are, in most cases, regarded as type material or reference strains available from collections. Next to the sequence data, morphological features are included in the polyphasic keys provided here for Phoma and associated genera, Colletotrichum and the Oomycete genus Phytophthora, to further secure proper identification of your material.
The distribution as well as relevant EPPO-protocols for the fungi can be downloaded from www.eppo.org and hyperlinks are provided to these in the Q-bank database.
Fungal strains used in the Q-bank database can be ordered through the links provided or contact information available for those strains.
Detailed protocols for the DNA isolation and PCR amplification of the genera are included on this website. A flow diagram showing the workflow for the identification of specific quarantine species included in the database will be added in the coming months.
Please feel free to contact the curators (contact information on this page) if you want to contribute data to the database. Click on this paragraph to obtain the guidelines / minimum requirements for contributions.