Introduction to the Cyber-infrastructure for Fusarium (CiF)
The genus Fusarium poses a multifaceted threat to global crop production and animal/human health. Due to its practical importance, the genus has been extensively studied at levels ranging from genetic mechanisms underlying important traits, such as toxin production and pathogenicity, to global biodiversity and evolution (Balmas et al., 2010; Desjardins, 2006; Ma et al., 2010; O'Donnell et al., 2004; O'Donnell et al., 2010; Summerell et al., 2001). The goal of CiF is to support research and education on the fungal genus Fusarium by archiving data, materials, and knowledge from diverse areas of Fusarium research, including genomics, phylogenetics, population genetics, and epidemiology in a format that can be easily accessed and updated. The CiF consists of three platforms (Fig. 1). The Fusarium-ID archives phylogenetic marker sequences from most known species along with information associated with characterized isolates and supports strain identification and phylogenetic analyses. The FCGP currently archives genomes from Fusarium species and supports genome browsing and analysis. The FCP is designed to serve as an online community forum for sharing and preserving accumulated experience and knowledge to support future research and education. More information can be founded on the home page of each platform. Via systematically archiving datasets from multiple areas of research on Fusarium, the CiF aims to efficiently leverage new knowledge and support problem solving. More