Fungal nomenclature
The nomenclature of fungi is governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants. Changes to the Code made at the International Botanical Congress in Melbourne in July 2011, dramatically affect fungal nomenclature. Decisions made at the Congress mean that one fungus can have only one correct name. Previously, the sexual and asexual states of the same fungus were often given separate names based on the different morphology of the spores and spore-producing structures of the sexual and asexual spores respectively. A requirement introduced at the Congress was that any new fungal names must be formally registered.
Landcare Research staff involved with the implementation of the new rules include:
- Dr Shaun Pennycook (Research Associate), member of the the permanent Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (the committee that arbitrates the use of fungal names), and member of the Sub-committee on Governance of the Code with Respect to Fungi.
- Dr Peter Johnston, member of the International Committee for the Taxonomy of Fungi
- Dr Bevan Weir, co-organiser of the ICTF Subcommission for Colletotrichum
- Dr Eric McKenzie, co-author of a compilation of generic names of sexual and asexual fungi, a important basic resource for managing the recent changes to the Code.
- Dr Jerry Cooper, assists the maintenance and development of the Index Fungorum website, one of the official registers of new fungal names.