Laboratory of Fungal Biochemistry

Komarov Botanical Institute Basidiomycetes Culture Collection (LE-BIN) maintains dikaryon strains of various taxonomic and ecological groups of basidial (Agaricomycotina, Basidiomycota) and marsupial (Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota) macromycetes originating from different geographical regions. It is an integral part of the Laboratory of Fungal Biochemistry. The collection was established in the late 1950s to study bioactive compounds and enzymes in basidiomycetes. In the late 1990s, the collection began a new project based on the idea of ex situ conservation of macromycetes. The collection development plan was changed to include ex situ conservation of taxonomic and ecological diversity of basidiomycetes in Russia with emphasis on conservation of rare and endangered species, maintenance of ectomycorrhizal fungi, and cultivation of strains of species useful for biotechnology and medicine. Most strains of the collection are original isolates obtained during field work in different regions of Russia (European part, Caucasus, Urals, Siberia, Far East), mainly in protected areas - nature reserves and national parks, but there are many strains from the territories of the former USSR, Vietnam, USA and some other countries The original specimens were identified by specialist taxonomists for different groups of macromycetes.

Voucher specimens for maintaining cultures are stored in the Mycological Herbarium of the Komarov Botanical Institute (LE). The cultures maintained in the collection are mainly represented by saprotrophic fungi, including xylotrophs, litter decomposers, soil saprotrophs, and fungi growing in nature on various other substrates. The collection also includes some ectomycorrhizal fungi (e.g., species of Amanita, Boletus, and Suillus). In more than half a century of its existence, the collection has undergone considerable development. Currently, LE-BIN is the largest living collection of basidiomycetes in Russia. Nowadays LE–BIN is the largest living collection of basidiomycetes in Russia. The collection serves as a basis for fundamental and applied research, as well as for training and education of students and the public. It is a nationally significant scientific object, the main repository of the natural Russian gene pool of macrofungi.

Abbreviation: LE-BIN (WDCM1015)

Contact: Dr Nadezhda Psurtseva, the Head curator of the Basidiomycetes Culture Collection

Address: Komarov Botanical Institute RAS, Laboratory of Fungal Biochemistry, Prof. Popov Str., 2, St Petersburg, 197376, Russia

E-mail: nadyapsu@binran.runadyapsu@mail.ru

Mycological interest: basidial (Agaricomycotina, Basidiomycota) and marsupial (Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota) macrofungi

Number of cultures: 4115 strains.

Taxonomical diversity: strains belong to 830 species of macromycetes from Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. Names of the LE–BIN cultures are regularly updated following modern nomenclature primarily as set out in Index Fungorum.

Preservation methods: the strains are maintained using 3 methods: as sub-cultures in tubes on malt-extract (4%) agar (2 %) slants at 4–6°C (tropical fungi at 15°C); in screw-cap vials under distilled water at 4–6°C; by cryopreservation (mechanical deep-freeze) in cryovials at -80°C (freezing rate 1°C per minute).

List of provided services:

  • Providing macromycetes strains on the user's request.
  • Deposit of macromycetes strains in the LE-BIN.
  • Identification of strains using the cultural and molecular methods.
  • Consultations on cultivation of macromycetes strains.

Publications about the LE-BIN:

Hall G.S., Minter D.W. International mycological directory. Third edition. CAB International, 1994. P.63–64.

Psurtseva N.V., Kiyashko A.A., Gachkova E.Y., Belova N.V. Basidiomycetes Culture Collection LE (BIN): Catalogue of Strains. M., SPb: KMK Scientific Press Ltd. 2007. 116 p.

Psurtseva N.V. Ex situ fungal conservation: the role of culture collections. Mycologia Balcanica. 2010. 7: 29–35.

Psurtseva N.V. Conservation of Medicinal Mushrooms in the LE (BIN) Culture Collection. Int. J. Med. Mushrooms. 2010. 12(2): 193–199.

Psurtseva N.V., Kiyashko A.A., Senik S.V., Shakhova N.V., Belova N.V. The conservation and study of macromycetes in the Komarov Botanical Institute Basidiomycetes Culture Collection — their taxonomical diversity and biotechnological prospects. J. Fungi. 2023. 9(12): 1196.

List of strains: