Summary
This Letter to the Editor of the international journal ‘Phytopathology’ lays out the case for retaining the historic and well recognised name Phytophthora, which is applied to a genus of highly significant plant destroying pathogens.
The authors’ case is based on strong biological and genetic evidence, but also emphasises how the unnecessary splitting of the genus will cause considerable damage to effective scientific communication and disease management efforts.
The authors are strongly in favour of preserving the current generic concept of Phytophthora, and ask for this to be endorsed by the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi.