Cryopreservation of filamentous micromycetes and yeasts using perlite

The viability, growth and morphology of 48 strains ofAscomycota (including 17 yeasts) and 20 strains ofZygomycota were determined after a 2-d and then after 1-year storage in liquid nitrogen using a new cryopreservation method with perlite as a particulate solid carrier. In case ofAscomycota, 45 strains (94 %) out of 48 survived both 2-d and 1-year storage in liquid nitrogen, respectively. In case ofZygomycota, all 20 strains survived both storage. In addition, 3 strains ofBasidiomycota counted among yeasts were tested and all survived the 1 year storage. In all surviving cultures no negative effects of cryopreservation by this method have been observed after 1-year of storage in liquid nitrogen. The results indicate that the perlite protocol can be successfully used for cryopreservation of taxonomically different groups of fungi and also for fungi which failed to survive other routinely used preservation procedures.