Cultures as types and the utility of viable specimens for fungal nomenclature

Andrey Yurkov, Cobus M. Visagie, Pedro W. Crous, Akira Hashimoto, Christiane Baschien, Dominik Begerow, Martin Kemler, Nathan Schoutteten, Marc Stadler, Nalin N. Wijayawardene, Kevin D. Hyde, Ning Zhang, Teun Boekhout, ICTF Yeast Working Group, Tom W. May, Marco Thines, David L. Hawksworth

Research output: Contribution to journal/periodicalArticleScientificpeer-review

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Abstract

The debates over the requirement of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICNafp) for a viable specimen to represent the name-bearing type material for a species or infraspecific taxon have a long history. Taxonomy of fungi commonly studied as living cultures exemplified by yeasts and moulds, strongly depend on viable reference material. The availability of viable cultures is also particularly useful for several groups of filamentous and dimorphic fungi. While the preservation of metabolically inactive cultures is permitted and recommended by the ICNafp, there is room for improvement. Below, we review the history and current status of cultures as the name-bearing type material under the Code. We also present a roadmap with tasks to be achieved in order to establish a stable nomenclatural system that properly manages taxa typified by viable specimens. Furthermore, we propose setting up rules and defining the nomenclatural status of ex-type cultures under Chapter F, the section of the ICNafp that includes provisions specific to names of fungi.
Original languageEnglish
JournalIMA Fungus
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2024

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