In spite of current efforts, collection of information from germplasm users continues to be a difficult issue. More effort should be made to solicit this information. The committee feels the most expeditious method to accomplish this is to design a form that accompanies germplasm and is returned to acknowledge receipt of cultures. Users need to be made more aware of the value of this information to the collection and to the mycorrhizal research community as a whole. Web-based forms could be developed to make users more likely to provide feedback.
Documentation provided by depositors of new accessions needs to be improved.
Information on geographic origin, community structure, and edaphic conditions will increase the utility of these accessions, and thus the value of the collection as a whole. There is no leverage to promote this goal, but with the ubiquity of email, perhaps several reminders can be made over time to try and push the issue. Our understanding of taxonomy, phylogenetics, and ecology of these fungi would be greatly enhanced by better understanding of genetic diversity within and between species. Some of this work could be accomplished by a post-doctoral associate whose function also is to assist in collection curatorial activities. All effort should be made to hire a postoctoral research associate as soon as possible.