Requesting strains
How do I request a strain?
Email us via the ordering page with the clone(s) you're after, and we'll confirm availability and sort out the details.
Do you ship outside Australia?
Not at present. We currently only send strains within Australia, and we need to check your state's biosecurity requirements before sending anything.
Is there a cost?
Get in touch and we'll let you know — see the ordering page.
Submitting a clone
Can I submit duckweed I've collected?
Yes, and we welcome it. Please use the new clone submission form and send the associated data before shipping or dropping off. Clones should have been collected either from state land, or from private land with the owner's permission.
How do I keep a sample alive until I can send it?
Keep it in low-nutrient water — ideally the water it was found in. If you use tap water, let it stand for 2–3 days first, then add a dilute liquid fertiliser (around a 1:5–10 dilution of the rate on the bottle). This helps limit algal and fungal growth.
About the collection
How are species identified?
Genus and species are determined by PCR barcoding (Borisjuk et al. 2014). Where barcoding doesn't give a clear identity, this is noted, and we use whole-genome sequencing to resolve the remaining unknowns.
Where can I see what's available?
The current holdings are listed in the database.
What is duckweed used for?
Research and applications span food and feed, wastewater treatment and phytoremediation, starch and bioenergy, molecular farming, and controlled-environment and space agriculture. See the introduction to duckweed for more.
Have a question that isn't answered here? Contact us and we'll add it.