Necessity of a National Fungarium and a Culture Collection for Fungi in Sri Lanka
Authors:   Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan 655011, P.R. China, Wijayawardene Nalin N. ,   Section of Genetics, Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care, No: 393/3, Lily Avenue, Off Robert Gunawardena Mawatha, Battaramulla 10120, Sri Lanka, Rajakaruna Shalini ,   National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka, Dai Dong-Qin ,   Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan 655011, P.R. China, Jayasekara Sandhya ,   National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka, Warnakula Lakshan ,   Section of Genetics, Institute for Research and Development in Health and Social Care, No: 393/3, Lily Avenue, Off Robert Gunawardena Mawatha, Battaramulla 10120, Sri Lanka, Ariyawansa Kahandawa G.S.U. ,   Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka, Fernando Eustace Y. ,   Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Jayasekera Primali ,   Department of Mycology, Medical Research Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Karunarathna Samantha C. ,   CIFOR-ICRAF, World Agroforestry Centre, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, P.R. China,   Centre for Mountain Futures (CMF), Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming, Yunnan, 650201, P.R. China, Singhalage Darshani ,   Department of Science and Technology, Uva Wellassa University, Badulla, Sri Lanka, Ukuwela Kanishka ,   Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Rajarata University, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Jayalal R.G. Udeni ,   Department of Natural Resources, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Belihuloya 70140, Sri Lanka, Jayasinghe R.P. Prabath K. ,   National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Crow Island, Colombo 15, 00150, Sri Lanka, Muthumala Chaminda K. ,   State Timber Corporation, Sampath Paya, Rajamalwatta Road, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka., Madawala Sumedha ,   Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Hewajulige Ilmi G.N. ,   Industrial Technology Institute, 503A, Halbarawa Gardens, Malabe 10115, Sri Lanka, Rajawardana Deepani U. ,   Industrial Technology Institute, 503A, Halbarawa Gardens, Malabe 10115, Sri Lanka, Ediriweera Aseni ,   CIFOR-ICRAF, World Agroforestry Centre, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, P.R. China,   Centre for Mountain Futures (CMF), Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming, Yunnan, 650201, P.R. China,   Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, and School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand, Ediriweera Surani ,   Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka, Alawathugoda Deepani ,   Forest Department, Sampath Paya, 82 Rajamalwatha Road, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka, Rajawatta K.M. Wathsala ,   Faculty of Technology, University of Ruhuna, Karagoda Uyangoda, Kamburupitiya, Matara 81000, Sri Lanka, Jin Xing-Chen , Chandana EP Saman ,   Faculty of Technology, University of Ruhuna, Karagoda Uyangoda, Kamburupitiya, Matara 81000, Sri Lanka, Nanayakkara Chandrika ,   Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka, Wijesundara Siril ,   National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Published: March 2022

Sri Lanka is rich in biological diversity, but its fungal diversity is not adequately studied and documented. Recent fungal diversity estimations have predicted that the tropical regions would harbour a large number of novel fungal species. Fungi are ubiquitous, hence it is important to carry out proper investigations to discover novel taxa in different habitats and ecosystems. These taxa represent different life modes i.e. pathogens (of plants, animals and humans), saprobes, endophytes, symbionts (lichens, mycorrhizae), and lichenicolous. Current mycology is mainly based on polyphasic approaches (morphological, DNA based and chemical analyses) to define the species (consolidated species concept). DNA based phylogenetic analyses are widely used in higher level classification. These DNA are mainly extracted from cultures. Depositing a specimen that the fungus is present at a reputed Fungarium and depositing a culture resulted from the specimen at a reputed culture collection is important. The “International Code of Taxonomy of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants” stated that it is important to deposit the holotype at a reputed fungarium, while depositing the ex-type culture which is derived from the holotype at a reputed culture collection is also essential. Besides species identification and classification, these specimens and cultures are important in future studies and in genetic resource conservation. In Sri Lanka, currently a national fungarium and a culture collection for fungi do not exist. However, several institutional collections and personal collections are available. In this conceptual paper, we propose to establish a central, national fungarium to deposit holotypes and a culture collection to deposit ex-type cultures while maintaining several regional or mirror collections to replicate the specimens as isotypes and paratypes, and cultures as ex-isotypes and ex-paratypes.