Viability and sporulating capability of Coelomycetes preserved under a range of different storage regimes

The viability and sporulating capability of 45 Coelomycetes strains were evaluated. Strain subcultures were maintained under mineral oil, in soil and on agar slant for different periods of time lasting as long as 50 years, 39 years and 2 years, respectively. Of the 34 strains preserved under mineral oil, 20 maintained their viability but lost the sporulating capability with exception of one strain of Pestalotiopsis guepinii. Of the 16 strains also preserved in soil only one was viable and it was not able to sporulate. All 12 endophytic strains, 11 preserved on agar slant and one under mineral oil remained viable; however, the strain preserved under mineral oil lost its sporulating capability, while the strains on agar slant were only able to sporulate after culturing on sterilized alfalfa twigs. The results demonstrate that routine monitoring, and the use of different preservation methods, specially with the addition of sterilized plant tissue on the culture media for promoting conidiomata formation, is necessary for the success of the Coelomycetes long-term preservation.