Our concept of a Global Information System for the Biodiversity of Plant Pathogenic Fungi
The Global information system
for the biodiversity of Plant Pathogenic fungi (GLOPP) on higher
plants integrates data on host plant specificity, geographical distribution,
and a core set of descriptive characters that allow an interactive
identification online. At the beginning European pathogens will be treated with
priority. The information system will not be a simple compilation, rather a
critical scientific revision of available data. Thus a common problem of
compilations, the degeneration of data quality and uncritical acceptance of
misidentifications, will be avoided. Original information is kept strictly separate
from the information assessed, therewith a documentation of - possibly
contradictory - assessments of multiple scientists is practicable. At the end
of the project the information system will be available on the internet free of
charge.
Especially the co-evolution
of host and parasite and the influence on the biodiversity of both groups is an
interesting aspect of the study. To achieve meaningful results, a high data
quality is necessary. Simple compilations in the form of host-parasite indices
are insufficient, since the - often more than 100 year old - identifications
may be wrong or use historic species concepts. The information system developed
will allow an assessment and interpretation of identifications by specialists
and the use of a "Potential Taxon"-concept, to determine data quality
and search for apparent outliers in the data set.
An information
system that is based on a critical revisions by specialists allows analyses of
temporal and spatial dynamics in the biodiversity of pathogens and their host
plants. Such studies open new ways to assess the ecological changes in
ecosystem research.
Within a
collaborative project information on the biodiversity of plant pathogenic fungi
is collated and critically assessed for a global inventory. The result is an
information system which integrates data on host specificity and geographical
distribution as well as taxonomical, systematical, phytopathological,
morphological, and molecular data. The system allows the online interactive
identification of plant pathogenic fungi and a retrieval of relevant
information, as well as analyses which increase our understanding of
biodiversity. The diversity of major taxonomic groups, the specificity of
host-pathogen relations, co-evolutionary processes, and temporal-spatial
dynamics in the distribution of pathogens are in the focus of special interest.
Besides, the information system has a considerable socio-economic impact due to
the large number of economically important pathogens.
The ambitious concept can be realized
only in a concerted action of many mycologists, phytopathologists, and
bioinformaticists. At first it shall be initiated with six contributory
projects in a framework of collaboration. The projects are selected to cover
the diversity of plant pathogens (Oomycota, Eumycota with Asco- and
Basidiomycetes) and to establish the data capture from various sources
(herbarium specimens, primary and secondary literature references, card indices,
culture collections). Each project will yield a well defined result, which can
be easily integrated into national and international follow-up projects.
Project leaders are scientists of the German Federal Biological Centre for
Agriculture and Forestry, the Botanical State Collection München, and the
Universities Tübingen and Halle. The GLOPP projects comprises of GLOPP-IT
(Information Techniques), GLOPP-Lit (Literature), GLOPP-Oomycetes (Downy
Mildews), GLOPP-Erysiphales (Powdery Mildews), GLOPP-Smuts (Ustilaginales in
the former sense), and GLOPP-Uredinales (Tropical Rusts).
Coordination of the collaborative project:
Prof. Dr. F. Oberwinkler,
Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Botanisches Institut, Lehrstuhl für
Spezielle Botanik und Mykologie, Auf der Morgenstelle 1, D-72076 Tübingen,
Deutschland. Tel: +49-7071-2972610; Fax: +49-7071-295344; E-Mail: franz.oberwinkler@uni-tuebingen.de.