The taxonomy of the model filamentous fungus Podospora anserina

By

Ament-Velásquez, S. Lorena
Johannesson, Hanna
Giraud, Tatiana
Debuchy, Robert
Saupe, Sven J.
Debets, Alfons J.M.
Bastiaans, Eric
Malagnac, Fabienne
Grognet, Pierre
Peraza-Reyes, Leonardo
Gladieux, Pierre
Kruys, Åsa
Silar, Philippe Silar
Huhndorf, Sabine M
Miller, Andrew
Vogan, Aaron

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

75

Pages

51--69

Subjects

phylogenetics , Podospora , Podosporaceae , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.75.55968

 

Abstract

The filamentous fungusPodospora anserinahas been used as a model organism for more than 100 years and has proved to be an invaluable resource in numerous areas of research. Throughout this period,P. anserinahas been embroiled in a number of taxonomic controversies regarding the proper name under which it should be called. The most recent taxonomic treatment proposed to change the name of this important species toTriangularia anserina. The results of past name changes of this species indicate that the broader research community is unlikely to accept this change, which will lead to nomenclatural instability and confusion in literature. Here, we review the phylogeny of the species closely related toP. anserinaand provide evidence that currently available marker information is insufficient to resolve the relationships amongst many of the lineages. We argue that it is not only premature to propose a new name forP. anserinabased on current data, but also that every effort should be made to retainP. anserinaas the current name to ensure stability and to minimise confusion in scientific literature. Therefore, we synonymiseTriangulariawithPodosporaand suggest that either the type species ofPodosporabe moved toP. anserinafromP. fimisedaor that all species within the Podosporaceae be placed in the genusPodospora.