Abstract

The realization regarding the significance of microorganisms is increasing with the passage of time. In today’s scenario of global climate change and increasing threats to biodiversity, the wheel of advanced biotechnologies is revolving around microbes to restore the ecological balance lost in the past few decades. In Pakistan, however, we lack sufficiently reliable biological data to start with and our knowledge of functional importance of the indigenous microbiota is highly fragmentary. Cataloging and preserving of our rich flora is therefore of extreme importance for regional and national resource management, bioprospecting and fundamental scientific research. Some institutes have their own collection but status of preservation is not satisfactory. The present project had helped to initiate the task to develop computerized data software for an easy access to the cumbersome process of identification. The software entitled “MYCOsoft” would be available in the market as well as from FCBP on request.

Key words: MYCOsoft, microbial diversity, biodiversity conservation, microbial germplasm.