The International Culture Collection of (Vesicular-) Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi-INVAM-the largest living culture collection of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) celebrated its 35th year in 2020. The authors record here the mission and goals of INVAM, its contribution as a living culture collection, some historical aspects of INVAM, and describe the advances in mycorrhizology and AMF systematics after INVAM moved to West Virginia University. This commentary emphasizes the importance of a living culture collection to preserve germplasm and to educate and assist researchers in mycorrhizal science.
Keywords: Culture collection; Genetic diversity; Glomeromycota; Systematics.