ICMP

The International Collection of Microorganisms from Plants (ICMP) is located at Landcare Resource's Auckland regional office.  It is a major international collection of living cultures of plant associated bacteria and fungi from New Zealand, and from overseas as well.  There are over 20,000 strains of bacteria and fungi from plants and soil.  Megan is the collection manager.

Cultures are stored in liquid nitrogen at minus 196 degrees C by a process known as crypopreservation.

Elsa is depositing more specimens into the collection.

A methodical record of deposits and dispatches are kept in the lab.  to check that specimens remain viable, from time to time, Rose takes out culture and plates it to see that it incubates.  Scientists from all over the world request cultures, not just scientists from New Zealand.

Fungal cultures are stored in drinking straws! I sometimes cut plastic straws into 4cm lengths and seal the ends on this heat activated press to make storage units.

Cultures sealed in plastic straw cases and ready to be sterilised before storage in the ICMP collection.