As a part of the National Gene Bank (NGB) that follows the Agricultural Research Center of Egypt (ARC), the Microbial Genetic Resources Laboratory is interested in collection, characterization, identification, authentication and conservation the microbial genetic recourses on the national level. The Microbial Genetic Resources lab has adequate facilities and equipment for establishing microbial culture collection (MCC), in addition to conduct some research programs in biofertilizers, biological control of plant diseases and long-term preservation of microorganisms. So far, the Microbial Genetic Resources Laboratory team were managed to collect more than 400 isolates of Rhizobia From different cultivated areas with legumes. Furthermore, there is a vital concern in collecting some bacterial species such as Serratia Sp and Bacillus thuringiensis which proved lately their significant ability as powerful biological control agents.
Objectives and Strategy
Establishment of microbial culture collection (MCC) for all microorganism (bacteria, yeasts, fungi and algae).
Collection, Isolation, Phenotypic and Genotypic characterization and Identification of microorganism.
Maintenance and preservation of purified cultures using either the short-term conservation at 4°C or the long-term conservation which can be under a freeze-dried condition, frozen in glycerol at –80 °C and Cryopreservation.
Serving as a center for the national and international exchange information and microbial culture collections.
Providing public and private sectors with the required cultures for manufacturing microbial inoculants.
Action plans and the future work
Propose research plans to overcome any constraints that may encounter the microbial culture collections.
Build up database of microbial culture collections comparing all the required information concerning non-pathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms used in agriculture.
Collection, isolation, cultivation, identification, evaluation, authentication and maintenance of microorganism under adverse soil conditions in Egypt.
Improving methods of characterization, preservation and distribution of microbial germplasm collection.
Collecting and evaluating microbial strains to increase the use of microbial inoculants in agriculture.
Staff
Dr. Fayrouz Hassan Abd Elmeged +20 102 838 9552 fayrouz_1983@hotmail.com
Dr. Akram Hassan Mohamed +20 100 412 0434 akramhassan8787@gmail.com
