Scientific responsible of the collection: Paolo Gonthier
Email: paolo.gonthier@unito.it

The MiAGR collection - Forest and Environmental Plant Pathology section is hosted by the Laboratory of Forest Pathology and the Laboratory of Phytopathological Biotechnologies of Forest trees, both located in the Plant Pathology Unit at the Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA).  

The two laboratories own extensive competencies and expertise in the fields of mycology applied to phytopathology, fungal biology and genetics, plant disease epidemiology, with a special focus on the diagnosis of fungal pathogens of forest and ornamental trees, with implications on environmental aspects. The laboratories are equipped with all the instruments required for basic and advanced research in phytopathology, microbiology, and molecular biology, including: laminar flow hoods and biosafety cabinets, autoclaves, microscopes, refrigerators, PCR thermocyclers, Real Time PCR instruments, gel electrophoresis devices, visualization devices and software for the analysis of electrophoretic gels. In addition, the laboratories own incubators and a climatic chamber.

The collection originated from surveys targeting fungal pathogens causing diseases on forest and ornamental trees. To date, the collection includes several hundred fungal isolates stored in mycological tubes or vials. Most of the isolates are stored in two distinct refrigerators located in different floors of the Plant Pathology Unit.

The collection mostly includes strains of wood decay Basidiomycetes, most of which belonging to the species complex Heterobasidion annosum, isolates of Ascomycetes and mitosporic fungi, such as Cryphonectria parasitica, Gnomoniopsis castaneae and Fusarium oxysporum, and some Zygomycetes and Oomycetes. Some fungal isolates hosted in the collection have relevant applications to the biological control of chestnut blight (i.e. ipovirulent strains of C. parasitica), and of root rot and wood decay caused by Heterobasidion spp. (i.e. strains of Phlebiopsis gigantea).