Phylogenomic Analysis of a 55.1-kb 19-Gene Dataset Resolves a MonophyleticFusariumthat Includes theFusarium solaniSpecies Complex
Authors: Geiser David M. , Al-Hatmi Abdullah M. S. , Aoki Takayuki , Arie Tsutomu , Balmas Virgilio , Barnes Irene , Bergstrom Gary C. , Bhattacharyya Madan K. , Blomquist Cheryl L. , Bowden Robert L. , Brankovics Balázs , Brown Daren W. , Burgess Lester W. , Bushley Kathryn , Busman Mark , Cano-Lira José F. , Carrillo Joseph D. , Chang Hao-Xun , Chen Chi-Yu , Chen Wanquan , Chilvers Martin , Chulze Sofia , Coleman Jeffrey J. , Cuomo Christina A. , de Beer Z. Wilhelm , de Hoog G. Sybren , Del Castillo-Múnera Johanna , Del Ponte Emerson M. , Diéguez-Uribeondo Javier , Di Pietro Antonio , Edel-Hermann Véronique , Elmer Wade H. , Epstein Lynn , Eskalen Akif , Esposto Maria Carmela , Everts Kathryne L. , Fernández-Pavía Sylvia P. , da Silva Gilvan Ferreira , Foroud Nora A. , Fourie Gerda , Frandsen Rasmus J. N. , Freeman Stanley , Freitag Michael , Frenkel Omer , Fuller Kevin K. , Gagkaeva Tatiana , Gardiner Donald M. , Glenn Anthony E. , Gold Scott E. , Gordon Thomas R. , Gregory Nancy F. , Gryzenhout Marieka , Guarro Josep , Gugino Beth K. , Gutierrez Santiago , Hammond-Kosack Kim E. , Harris Linda J. , Homa Mónika , Hong Cheng-Fang , Hornok László , Huang Jenn-Wen , Ilkit Macit , Jacobs Adriaana , Jacobs Karin , Jiang Cong , Jiménez-Gasco María del Mar , Kang Seogchan , Kasson Matthew T. , Kazan Kemal , Kennell John C. , Kim Hye-Seon , Kistler H. Corby , Kuldau Gretchen A. , Kulik Tomasz , Kurzai Oliver , Laraba Imane , Laurence Matthew H. , Lee Theresa , Lee Yin-Won , Lee Yong-Hwan , Leslie John F. , Liew Edward C. Y. , Lofton Lily W. , Logrieco Antonio F. , S. López-Berges Manuel , Luque Alicia G. , Lysøe Erik , Ma Li-Jun , Marra Robert E. , Martin Frank N. , May Sara R. , McCormick Susan P. , McGee Chyanna , Meis Jacques F. , Migheli Quirico , Mohamed Nor N. M. I. , Monod Michel , Moretti Antonio , Mostert Diane , Mulè Giuseppina , Munaut Françoise , Munkvold Gary P. , Nicholson Paul , Nucci Marcio , O’Donnell Kerry , Pasquali Matias , Pfenning Ludwig H. , Prigitano Anna , Proctor Robert H. , Ranque Stéphane , Rehner Stephen A. , Rep Martijn , Rodríguez-Alvarado Gerardo , Rose Lindy Joy , Roth Mitchell G. , Ruiz-Roldán Carmen , Saleh Amgad A. , Salleh Baharuddin , Sang Hyunkyu , Scandiani María Mercedes , Scauflaire Jonathan , Schmale David G. , Short Dylan P. G. , Šišić Adnan , Smith Jason A. , Smyth Christopher W. , Son Hokyoung , Spahr Ellie , Stajich Jason E. , Steenkamp Emma , Steinberg Christian , Subramaniam Rajagopal , Suga Haruhisa , Summerell Brett A. , Susca Antonella , Swett Cassandra L. , Toomajian Christopher , Torres-Cruz Terry J. , Tortorano Anna M. , Urban Martin , Vaillancourt Lisa J. , Vallad Gary E. , van der Lee Theo A. J. , Vanderpool Dan , van Diepeningen Anne D. , Vaughan Martha M. , Venter Eduard , Vermeulen Marcele , Verweij Paul E. , Viljoen Altus , Waalwijk Cees , Wallace Emma C. , Walther Grit , Wang Jie , Ward Todd J. , Wickes Brian L. , Wiederhold Nathan P. , Wingfield Michael J. , Wood Ana K. M. , Xu Jin-Rong , Yang Xiao-Bing , Yli-Mattila Tapani , Yun Sung-Hwan , Zakaria Latiffah , Zhang Hao , Zhang Ning , Zhang Sean X. , Zhang Xue 
Published: November 2020

Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user’s needs and established successful practice. In 2013, the Fusarium community voiced near unanimous support for a concept of Fusarium that represented a clade comprising all agriculturally and clinically important Fusarium species, including the F. solani species complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this concept was challenged in 2015 by one research group who proposed dividing the genus Fusarium into seven genera, including the FSSC described as members of the genus Neocosmospora, with subsequent justification in 2018 based on claims that the 2013 concept of Fusarium is polyphyletic. Here, we test this claim and provide a phylogeny based on exonic nucleotide sequences of 19 orthologous protein-coding genes that strongly support the monophyly of Fusarium including the FSSC. We reassert the practical and scientific argument in support of a genus Fusarium that includes the FSSC and several other basal lineages, consistent with the longstanding use of this name among plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, students, and researchers with a stake in its taxonomy. In recognition of this monophyly, 40 species described as genus Neocosmospora were recombined in genus Fusarium, and nine others were renamed Fusarium. Here the global Fusarium community voices strong support for the inclusion of the FSSC in Fusarium, as it remains the best scientific, nomenclatural, and practical taxonomic option available.