ABSTRACT
The vast array of uses and properties described in this handbook is a testimony to the countless ways in which mankind has harnessed fungi. Characterization techniques have been developed continuously in recent years and new properties are being discovered at a rapid pace. Therefore, it is essential that methods for maintenance and preservation must be optimized to ensure that strains retain their full potential. The removal of an organism from its natural environment, and the subsequent manipulation that occurs through maintenance on synthetic media, while maintaining viability, may induce selection from the original population of cells isolated. Consequently, preservation of a living strain for long periods may lead to irreversible loss of properties. Thus, fungal culture collections must not only keep the organisms viable but also must ensure that they retain their full genetic and physiological integrity. Collections of organisms are not new; records of them being kept by individuals in public and private organizations date back to the 1800s (Sly and Kirsop 1990). There continues to be a demand for living collections and their specialist services but there is also a need for them to be better integrated and networked internationally to improve coverage and increase access.
