The plant viruses and viroids database and collections of Q-bank

The availability of characterised reference isolates of plant pathogens is of crucial importance for research and diagnostic laboratories. The Q-bank Plant Viruses and Viroids database contains data and information on plant viruses and viroids, with the unique feature that it is linked to specimens present in publicly available physical collections. The Q-bank database aims to share data and information on the virus and viroid species and their availability between research and diagnostic laboratories. Currently the database focuses on regulated virus species. In future more plant viruses and viroids will be included to provide a comprehensive data and information system. The curators invite virologists worldwide to participate in this international initiative by making their data and isolates available via Q-bank (http://www.q-bank.eu).