Collections and online databases NIVIP

Why do we manage these collections?

Collection management is one of NIVIP's legal responsibilities. In addition, a good collection of reference material helps in making reliable diagnoses and developing new tests. Finally, this way, historical knowledge is preserved, and new developments can be put into perspective.

How do we store the collection?

We store a large part of the collection at -80 °C. But we also have living collections, for example, with live plants in which we store viruses don't multiply easily. In addition, we have a herbarium, a nematological ring garden, and a virus garden.

Which collections do we manage?

We manage the following collections:

• NIVIP Collection
• Nematode Collection Europe (NCE)
• Q-bank
• Q-bank Invasive Plants
• Nextstrain

NIVIP Collection

We manage a large collection of reference material. This collection contains samples of phytosanitary important:

• insects
• bacteria
• fungi
• invasive plants
• nematodes
• phytoplasmas, viruses and viroids

The collection also contains similar or related species.

Through the NIVIP Collection, you can search the database and see which species are stored in our collection.

Nematode Collection Europe (NCE)

We are the only ones in the Netherlands who manage a collection of nematodes. These are preparations of nematodes (or roundworms) that live, among other things, as parasites, and can cause plant diseases. The nematode collection is a collection of approximately 55,000 preparations from around the world. The collection contains the following important groups of nematodes:

• plant-parasitic nematodes
• bacteria-eating nematodes
• fungus-eating nematodes
• saprophytic nematodes
• insect-parasitic nematodes
• carnivorous nematodes 

The type preparation collection and the nomenclatural or name-giving card system have been digitized by Wageningen University and us.

Type preparations

The type preparations form the heart of the collection and consist of approximately 3,500 permanent preparations. Types are so-called name-bearing preparations. When describing a new nematode, one is obliged to place types in an official collection. These preparations must be maintained and available to other taxonomists.

Working collection

The working collection comprises approximately 50,000 permanent preparations with a total of more than 200,000 nematodes identified by name. This collection part is used:

• for teaching (internally and externally)
• in taxonomic research
• as reference material for identifying nematodes by name

Nomenclatural system

The nomenclatural system includes more than 25,000 nematode names. It includes:

• new nematode names
• keeping track of name changes
• recording the synonym-homonym history

Q-bank

The Q-bank was established by NIVIP and later transferred to the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). In the online database, you will find descriptions of organisms that are harmful to crops and the green space. It includes morphological, molecular, physiological, biological, and ecological information on:

• bacteria
• fungi
• insects
• nematodes
• phytoplasmas
• viruses and viroids
• invasive plants

The data in the Q-bank have been verified by specialists and are available as reference material in the connected European collections.

What can you use the Q-bank for?

As a phytosanitary organization, you can use the Q-bank as a reference and identification database. Phytosanitary organizations can include:

• National plant protection services
• Inspection services
• Commercial laboratories

To quickly and adequately detect, diagnose, and identify quarantine organisms and other harmful organisms, the following data is available:

• Reference material
• Digital keys
• Descriptions
• Photos

The descriptions complement the species information provided online by other organizations such as CABI and EPPO. Species information they provide can include diagnostic protocols, datasheets, distribution maps, PRAs.

Specimens of species included in Q-bank are physically available in the connected European collections. You can also request molecular information and material. In addition, as a researcher, you can directly check molecular data ('blasting') against the sequences in Q-bank.

Who manages Q-bank?

A team of diagnostic specialists continuously updates the data in Q-bank. They are designated by EPPO.

Q-Bankplants Invasive Plants

The database Invasive plants facilitates the identification of invasive plants in the Netherlands and Belgium with datasheets and interactive keys. The database focuses on vascular plants (excluding algae and mosses), with a special focus on aquatic plants (non-marine plants).