One fungus, one name: Defining the genus Fusarium in a scientifically robust way that preserves longstanding use

David M. Geiser, Takayuki Aoki, Charles W. Bacon, Scott E. Baker, Madan K. Bhattacharyya, Mary E. Brandt, Daren W. Brown, Lester W. Burgess, Sofia Chulze, Jeffrey J. Coleman, James C. Correll, Sarah F. Covert, Pedro W. Crous, Christina A. Cuomo, G. Sybren De Hoog, Antonio Di Pietro, Wade H. Elmer, Lynn Epstein, Rasmus J.N. Frandsen, Stanley FreemanTatiana Gagkaeva, Anthony E. Glenn, Thomas R. Gordon, Nancy F. Gregory, Kim E. Hammond-Kosack, Linda E. Hanson, María Del Mar Jímenez-Gasco, Seogchan Kang, H. Corby Kistler, Gretchen A. Kuldau, John F. Leslie, Antonio Logrieco, Guozhong Lu, Erik Lysøe, Li Jun Ma, Susan P. McCormick, Quirico Migheli, Antonio Moretti, Françoise Munaut, Kerry O'Donnell, Ludwig Pfenning, Randy C. Ploetz, Robert H. Proctor, Stephen A. Rehner, Vincent A.R.G. Robert, Alejandro P. Rooney, Baharuddin Bin Salleh, Maria Mercedes Scandiani, Jonathan Scauflaire, Dylan P.G. Short, Emma Steenkamp, Haruhisa Suga, Brett A. Summerell, Deanna A. Sutton, Ulf Thrane, Francis Trail, Anne Van Diepeningen, Hans D. VanEtten, Altus Viljoen, Cees Waalwijk, Todd J. Ward, Michael J. Wingfield, Jin Rong Xu, Xiao Bing Yang, Tapani Yli-Mattila, Ning Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

210 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)400-408
Number of pages9
JournalPHYTOPATHOLOGY
Volume103
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2013

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Plant Science

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