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Wheat Information Service
Number 84: 56-59 (1997)
Proposal

The history and the correct nomenclature of the D-genome diploid' species in Triticeae (Poaceae)

C. Yen1*, J.L. Yang1 and Y. Yen2

1 Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Dujiangyan City, 611830, Sichuan, China

2 Department of Biology/Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, U.S.A.


Introduction

In the literature, Aegilops squarrosa L., Ae. tauschii Cosson, and Triticum tauschii (Cosson) Schmal. are frequently used as the scientific name for the D-genome diploid species in the tribe Triticeae. According to an incomplete survey, from 1990 to 1995, more than 100 authors used "Aegilops squarrosa L." to refer to this taxon in their papers, and, when Aegilops and Triticum were treated as a single genus, the name Triticum tauschii (Cosson) Schmal. is often used. This chaos in nomenclature for this species often leads to misunderstanding of the species referred to by people who are not familiar with Triticeae taxonomy, and may cause problems in researches. Therefore, Dr. Kozo Nishikawa, the editor of Wheat Information Service (WIS), suggested that we write this note to clarify the correct nomenclature for this D-genome diploid Triticeae species.


History of the nomenclature of the diploid D-genome Triticeae species

Two species in the genus now called Aegilops were first reported by Scheuchzer (1719) in his Agrostographia. This was before the standard binary system of Linnaeus was established. These two species were later designated as Aegilops triaristata by Willdenow in 1805 and as Ae. ovata by Linne in 1753, respectively. Linne (1753) established the genus Aegilops, based on the type specimen of Ae. ovata L., and published the following five Aegilops species in his Species Plantarum: Ae. ovata L., Ae. caudata L., Ae. squarrosa L., Ae. triuncialis L. and Ae. incura L.. In the second edition of this book, Ae. incura L. was moved to genus Lepturus (Linne 1763). Actually, the species which Linne (1753, 1763) named Ae. squarrosa L. is a form of Ae. triuncialis L. which differs from the type by only having awns on the top spikelets.
* Corresponding author.
Contribution from South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal series number 2944

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