The Fungal and Protist Viruses Subcommittee (SC) of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) has received a total of eight taxonomic proposals for the 2024 annual cycle. The extent of...

ERA-Chair: Striving for Excellence in the Forest Ecosystem

The Viruses of Microbes (VoM) 2026 conference is the world’s leading event for research on viruses of microorganisms, including bacteriophages, archaeal viruses, and viruses of microbial eukaryotes.

Abstract. Phytophthora cinnamomi stands out as one of the most devastating plant pathogens worldwide, rapidly expanding its range and impacting a wide rang

Phytophthora is a long-established, well known and globally important genus of plant pathogens. Phylogenetic evidence has shown that the biologically distinct, obligate biotrophic downy mildews evolved from Phytophthora at least twice. Since, cladistically, this renders Phytophthora ‘paraphyletic’, it has been proposed that Phytophthora evolutionary clades be split into multiple genera (Runge et al. 2011; Crous et al. 2021; Thines et al. 2023; Thines 2024). In this letter, we review arguments for the retention of the generic name Phytophthora with a broad circumscription made by Brasier et al. (2022) and by many delegates at an open workshop organized by the American Phytopathological Society. We present our well-considered responses to this proposal in general terms and to the specific proposals for new genera; together with new information regarding the biological properties and mode of origin of the Phytophthora clades. We consider that the proposals for new genera are mostly non-rigorous and not supported by the scientific evidence. Further, given (1) the apparent lack of any distinguishing biological characteristics (synapomorphies) between the Phytophthora clades; (2) the fundamental monophyly of Phytophthora in the original Haeckelian sense; (3) the fact that paraphyly is not a justification for taxonomic splitting; and (4) the considerable likely damage to effective scientific communication and disease management from an unnecessary break-up of the genus, we report that Workshop delegates voted unanimously in favour of preserving the current generic concept and for seeking endorsement of this view by a working group of the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi.

Fans of tropical plants can look forward to the orchid exhibition, which will take place in the greenhouses of the Botanical Garden of the MENDELU Arboretum. It will offer a tour of the exhibition hal...

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The conference is co-organized by UB3Guard and EPPO, in collaboration with INIAV.  For more information, contact Johanna Witzell.