BACKGROUND

The uses of plant disease and insect collections are numerous but most importantly for taxonomic research and comparative biology. From a biosecurity perspective, these collections allow the development of specimen-based pest lists that are critical for resolving quarantine issues related to agricultural trade. Typically, plant disease and insect specimens are stored in a way that helps preserve the organisms' morphology but not necessarily their DNA.

In the age of genomics, DNA sequencing has become one of the most important tools for identifying organisms and for biodiversity studies. The Biosecurity Bank aims to provide a reference collection of DNA from a range of agriculturally-important plant pathogens and pests for molecular analyses. Where possible, DNA specimens are linked to voucher specimens to allow taxonomic verification. The Biosecurity Bank also serves as a repository for DNA clones.

The Biosecurity Bank is a joint initiative of the