Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #261248
Title: How to describe a new fungal species

Author
item SEIFERT, K.A. - Eastern Cereals & Oilseed Center
item Rossman, Amy

Submitted to: IMA Fungus
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/19/2010
Publication Date: 12/3/2010
Citation: Seifert, K., Rossman, A.Y. 2010. How to describe a new fungal species. IMA Fungus. 1(2):109-116.

Interpretive Summary: Fungi are a group of organisms that are important to humanity in many ways including as the cause of diseases of plants and animals as well as the source of new pharmaceuticals such as cholesterol lowering drugs. Yet, only about 15% of fungi are known thus many new species of fungi have yet to be discovered, named, and formally described. Naming and describing a new species of fungus requires that a number of rules and conventions be followed. In this paper these rules are explained along with the standards set by journals in which these descriptions are published. This paper will be used by scientists who need to name and describe new species of fungi.

Technical Abstract: The formal and informal requirements for the publication of descriptions of new fungal species are discussed. This involves following the rules of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature as well as meeting the standards set by the editorial board of the journals in which these descriptions are published. A model manuscript offers one possible approach to writing such a paper.