The National Fungal Identification Service (NFIS) provides identifications of mainly plant-associated fungi. We focus on fungi that cause plant diseases and post-harvest losses of agronomic crops and ornamental plants. We also provide identifications of specimens collected in the field and housed in our biological collections, including the Canadian Collection of Fungal Cultures (DAOMC) and the Canadian National Mycological Herbarium (DAOM).
The identification service is available to:
- Research scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
- Governmental departments and affiliates, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), and Canadian Museum of Nature.
- Provincial and territorial plant diagnostic laboratories.
- Canadian universities and private companies.
- Public in the National Capital Region.
The objectives of the NFIS are to:
- Provide accurate identifications of fungal samples/specimens based on observational and/or molecular data.
- Engage with key stakeholders in agriculture within and across federal, territorial, and provincial departments and affiliates (including CFIA, CGC, museums), Canadian universities, private companies, and the public.
- Support AAFC collections (DAOMC and DAOM) and research staff.
Fungal samples may be submitted directly to the NFIS coordinator or via an AAFC research scientist, the culture collection, or herbarium. When possible, the NFIS will collaborate with a taxonomic expert to provide an authoritative identification based on fungal morphology and DNA sequencing. The NFIS does not accept walk-in identification requests.
Related links
Canadian Collection of Fungal Cultures (DAOMC) – the DAOMC is the largest collection of its kind in Canada, with more than 20,000 living fungal cultures, and acts as a repository and distributor of fungal genetic resources for national and international researchers.
Canadian National Mycological Herbarium (DAOM) - the largest fungarium of non-lichenized fungi in Canada with ca. 350,000 fungal and fungal plant disease specimens.
Contact information
Email: aafc.mycoidentification-identificationmyco.aac@agr.gc.ca
National Fungal Identification Service
Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
K.W. Neatby Building
960 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0C6
Telephone: 613-759-1821