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Colletotrichum

Genus of fungi

  • 4 min read
  • 2 chapters

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History

The history of the Colletotrichum genus is a case study on the tension between the lumpers and splitters. While the genus Colletotrichum was first proposed in 1831, the exact definition of Colletotrichum and the species that belong in this genus has been in flux ever since. The biggest recent shift has been from a definition (of both the genus and the species within it) based on morphology to a definition based on a combination of morphology and molecular phylogenetics. The use of molecular phylogenetics has led to a huge increase in the number of recognized species in this genus, and the species are now organized into species complexes that usually have the name of their most widely known species. The name of a species when referring its namesake species complex will often have the suffix s.l. or sensu lato (in the broad sense) while that same name when referring to the specific species within the species complex will have the suffix of s.s. or sensu stricto (in the strict sense).

The most recent assessment of this genus identifies 248 species, most of which are categorized into 14 species complexes. If history is any indicator of the future, then the list of species complexes and species within this genus will continue to be redefined and reorganized as more information becomes available.

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