THE CULTURE COLLECTION OF ALGAE AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY

A list is presented of cultures of algae available for purposes of research and teaching. The list includes 753 Chlorophyta; 94 Chrysophyta; 56 Cyanophyta; 55 Euglenophyta; 7 Pyrrophyta; 6 Rhodophyta; 1 species of Phaeophyta; and 5 residual flagellates. Formulae of culture media and directions for maintaining the cultures are included, as are instructions for evoking the sexual process in species of Chlamydomonas, Astrephomene, Pandorina, Eudorina, Cosniarium, Closterium, 0edogonium, Bulbochaete, and Vaucheria. THE CULTIVATION of algae has shown rapid progress in the last two decades due to the increasing awareness of their usefulness as materials in physiological and genetic research, as well as in basic studies in morphology, taxonomy, cytology, and ecology, where the availability of large clonal populations is often of prime importance. The desirability of preserving algal strains which have been used in investigations and the need by investigators for a source of algal strains for research prompted the establishment of a culture collection of algae at Prague, and later at Cambridge University, by Dr. E. G. Pringsheim. Smaller collections in Paris, Basel, and other laboratories both in Europe and the United States included some algal cultures, but onily in the Cambridge Collection was there a variety of cultures which, upon payment of a small fee, were readily available to any worker. It was felt that for safety and convenience, especially on the part of the investigators in the United States, a collection similar to that at Cambridge should be established in the United States. Accordingly, the Culture Collection of Algae at Indiana University was established in the Department of Botany in 1953, using a nucleus of cultures obtained from the Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa at Cambridge University. The Research and Equipment Committees of Indiana University provided funds for the installation of physical facilities for the cultivation of algae. Funds for materials and technical assistance were given by the Lilly Research Laboratories of Indianapolis during 1953-1955 and by the Charles F. Kettering Foundation of Yellow Springs, Ohio, during 1955-1959. The National Science Foundation, through Grant NSF G11027, has provided funds for a full-time curator since February 1, 1960, and through Grant NSF GB-1689 has permitted the purchase and installation of laboratory furniture for expanded laboratory facilities for the Collection in 1963-1964. The National Institutes of Health activated on February 1, 1965, Grant PHS FR 00141 01 to provide for a study of longterm preservation of algal stocks and for the 1 Received for publication MWarch 30, 1964. The costs for excess pagination are being defrayed by the Culture Collection of Algae at Indiana University. isolation and characterization of new genetic stocks. Indiana University acknowledges with appreciation the support given by these organizations. Funds received from the sale of cultures cover the expenses of other employees, supplies, postage, and secretarial assistance. No charges are made by Indiana University for the use and maintenance of physical facilities. CULTURES FOR RESEAR CH-All cultures in the Collection are available to all interested individuals and organizations, both academic and commercial. To acadenmic institutions and nonprofit organizations the cost per culture is $2.002 postpaid; commercial organizations are charged $10.00 per culture postpaid. Cultures for research can usually be sent within 10 days after the receipt of the order. Investigators who use cultures from the Collection are requested to indicate the IU Collection numbers in their publications in order to identify their strains more exactly. Reprints of such publications will be appreciated. Investigators using newly isolated algal strains in their researches are invited to send their strains to the Collection at any time they may have no objection to unrestricted distribution to other workers. Mutant strains will be added to the Collection only if they have been characterized. The final decision on the addition of any strain to the Collection must be reserved for the Director. CULTURES FOR TEACHING-Although the Collection was established primarily to serve as a source of cultures for research, the urgent need for cultures of living algae in teaching is recognized. Please see the section at the end of the culture list for details of the reduced rates for certain cultures selected for use in the classroom. ORDERS-Orders for cultures for research and for teaching should be addressed to the Culture Collection of Algae, Department of Botany, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Requests by personal letters or by telephone (Area Code 812; 337-5353) will be filled with invoicing delayed, if desired, until after receipt of official confirming purchase orders. Payment should be made to Indiana University only after the receipt of invoice forms issued-by the Culture Collection. 2 Prices in effect beginning January 1, 1965; until that time, $1.00.