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<p>Systematic mycology relies on a large body of specimens for comparative analyses and taxonomic conclusions. However, many species, especially of plant-parasitic microfungi (<i>Fungi</i> and <i>Oomycota</i>) occur only sporadically and often cannot be cultured on artificial media, as they rely on living plant cells for their nutrition. This is further complicated by the difficulties inherent with old herbarium specimens, which cannot always be readily investigated using molecular phylogenetics. Thus, recent collections are of utmost importance. However, they are often lacking due to constraints of the current academic system, which is focused more on output than on broadening the basis for future studies by collections. Citizen scientists can play a vital role in filling this gap. We exemplify this in the current article, on the example of the late German amateur botanist and mycologist Horst Jage (1935–2024), who collected tens of thousands of specimens of plant parasitic fungi (<i>Fungi</i> and <i>Oomycota</i>) on various host plants throughout Central Europe and deposited them in public herbaria. These specimens were thus made accessible to the scientific community, particularly for DNA sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analyses. The impact of Jage’s collections on taxonomy and new species concepts within the <i>Peronosporales</i>, <i>Erysiphaceae</i> (<i>Helotiales</i>), and other groups of plant-parasitic fungi is highlighted. His effective collecting methods are briefly described, and the publications and 33 type specimens based on his material have been compiled. This highlights the important role of such collections from citizen scientists, and emphasizes the need to support their endeavours, which are indispensable for the effort towards the complete inventory of extant species.</p>

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The importance of citizen science for systematics, exemplified by the significant contributions to DNA-based taxonomy of plant-parasitic microfungi (Fungi, Oomycota) by the late botanist and mycologist Horst Jage

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月23日

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  • Markus Scholler,
  • Uwe Braun,
  • Ulrike Damm,
  • Marco Thines

摘要

Systematic mycology relies on a large body of specimens for comparative analyses and taxonomic conclusions. However, many species, especially of plant-parasitic microfungi (Fungi and Oomycota) occur only sporadically and often cannot be cultured on artificial media, as they rely on living plant cells for their nutrition. This is further complicated by the difficulties inherent with old herbarium specimens, which cannot always be readily investigated using molecular phylogenetics. Thus, recent collections are of utmost importance. However, they are often lacking due to constraints of the current academic system, which is focused more on output than on broadening the basis for future studies by collections. Citizen scientists can play a vital role in filling this gap. We exemplify this in the current article, on the example of the late German amateur botanist and mycologist Horst Jage (1935–2024), who collected tens of thousands of specimens of plant parasitic fungi (Fungi and Oomycota) on various host plants throughout Central Europe and deposited them in public herbaria. These specimens were thus made accessible to the scientific community, particularly for DNA sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analyses. The impact of Jage’s collections on taxonomy and new species concepts within the Peronosporales, Erysiphaceae (Helotiales), and other groups of plant-parasitic fungi is highlighted. His effective collecting methods are briefly described, and the publications and 33 type specimens based on his material have been compiled. This highlights the important role of such collections from citizen scientists, and emphasizes the need to support their endeavours, which are indispensable for the effort towards the complete inventory of extant species.