Author:
Geiser David M.,Aoki Takayuki,Bacon Charles W.,Baker Scott E.,Bhattacharyya Madan K.,Brandt Mary E.,Brown Daren W.,Burgess Lester W.,Chulze Sofia,Coleman Jeffrey J.,Correll James C.,Covert Sarah F.,Crous Pedro W.,Cuomo Christina A.,De Hoog G. Sybren,Di Pietro Antonio,Elmer Wade H.,Epstein Lynn,Frandsen Rasmus J. N.,Freeman Stanley,Gagkaeva Tatiana,Glenn Anthony E.,Gordon Thomas R.,Gregory Nancy F.,Hammond-Kosack Kim E.,Hanson Linda E.,Jímenez-Gasco María del Mar,Kang Seogchan,Kistler H. Corby,Kuldau Gretchen A.,Leslie John F.,Logrieco Antonio,Lu Guozhong,Lysøe Erik,Ma Li-Jun,McCormick Susan P.,Migheli Quirico,Moretti Antonio,Munaut Françoise,O'Donnell Kerry,Pfenning Ludwig,Ploetz Randy C.,Proctor Robert H.,Rehner Stephen A.,Robert Vincent A. R. G.,Rooney Alejandro P.,bin Salleh Baharuddin,Scandiani Maria Mercedes,Scauflaire Jonathan,Short Dylan P. G.,Steenkamp Emma,Suga Haruhisa,Summerell Brett A.,Sutton Deanna A.,Thrane Ulf,Trail Francis,Van Diepeningen Anne,VanEtten Hans D.,Viljoen Altus,Waalwijk Cees,Ward Todd J.,Wingfield Michael J.,Xu Jin-Rong,Yang Xiao-Bing,Yli-Mattila Tapani,Zhang Ning
Abstract
In this letter, we advocate recognizing the genus Fusarium as the sole name for a group that includes virtually all Fusarium species of importance in plant pathology, mycotoxicology, medicine, and basic research. This phylogenetically guided circumscription will free scientists from any obligation to use other genus names, including teleomorphs, for species nested within this clade, and preserve the application of the name Fusarium in the way it has been used for almost a century. Due to recent changes in the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, this is an urgent matter that requires community attention. The alternative is to break the longstanding concept of Fusarium into nine or more genera, and remove important taxa such as those in the F. solani species complex from the genus, a move we believe is unnecessary. Here we present taxonomic and nomenclatural proposals that will preserve established research connections and facilitate communication within and between research communities, and at the same time support strong scientific principles and good taxonomic practice.
Subject
Plant Science,Agronomy and Crop Science