ARS | Publication request: Proposal to conserve the name Olivea tectonae (T.S. Ramakr. & K. Ramakr.) R.L. Mulder against Olivea tectonae (Racib.) Thirum (Basidiomycota)

Submitted to: Taxon
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 28, 2008
Publication Date: November 17, 2008
Repository URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10113/43938
Citation: Minnis, D., Rossman, A.Y., Yun, H. 2008. Proposal to conserve the name Olivea tectonae (T.S. Ramakr. & K. Ramakr.) R.L. Mulder against Olivea tectonae (Racib.) Thirum (Basidiomycota). Taxon. 57:1355-1356.

Interpretive Summary: Accurate scientific names of fungal plant pathogens are essential for communicating about them and are especially important for potentially invasive organisms. A set of rules have been developed about how to determine the scientific names of plants and fungi that allow well known names that break the rules to stay the same, that is, to be conserved. The scientific name of the fungus that causes teak rust is well known but it should be changed according to the naming rules. The research presents the reasons why the scientific name of the teak rust fungus should not be changed. This proposal will be considered by a special committee who decide about conserving scientific names. If this proposal is accepted, the scientific name of the fungus that causes teak rust will not be changed. This research will be used by plant pathologists and plant quarantine officials who are concerned with this rust disease of teak.

Technical Abstract: Teak rust is a problematic disease of Tectona grandis L.f., teak (Lamiaceae), that has its most devastating effects on nursery plants and young plantations where it may cause severe growth stunting due to defoliation. The teak rust fungus is considered to be a threat to forest, horticultural, and agricultural crops that is not found in the USA. The teak rust fungus should be classified in Olivea rather than the genus Chaconia Juel since the uredinial and telial states have paraphysate sori. However, the name, Olivea tectonae in either sense, is not available for the teleomorph. Olivea tectonae (T.S. Ramakr. & K. Ramakr.) R.L. Mulder 1973 is an illegitimate later homonym of the valid, but nom. anamorphosis, Olivea tectonae (Racib.) Thirum 1949. The name Olivea tectonae in both senses is used as the correct name for the teak rust fungus in scientific literature. It is more favorable to conserve Olivea tectonae (T.S. Ramakr. & K. Ramakr.) R.L. Mulder against Olivea tectonae (Racib.) Thirum. in accordance with Art. 14 of the ICBN so that a nom. teleomorphosis based on a teleomorphic type is available in Olivea rather than confuse the literature with a new name.