**2.7. Bilai**

Bilai, a Ukrainian scientist, studied variability in characteristics related to temperature, moisture, and culture media composition and offered her own revision of the taxonomy of the genus *Fusarium* and recommended combining some sections suggested by Wollenweber and Reinking [16, 17].

## **2.8. Booth**

A significant development in the taxonomy of *Fusarium* was made by Booth from England during 1960s and 1970s. He published a monograph "The Genus *Fusarium*" [18], which was a revision of the Wollenweber and Reinking's system. Booth introduced the use of the morphology of the conidiogenous cells, especially those producing the macroconidia.

#### **2.9. Gerlach and Nirenberg**

Based on the taxonomy published in "Die Fusarien," Gerlach and Nirenberg published their own *Fusarium* taxonomy system in Germany in 1982 [19]. In spite of the criticism of their taxonomic system, their work was a significant step forward in understanding of *Fusarium* taxonomy and many of the suggested species in their system are now accepted.

#### **2.10. Joffe**

Joffe, originally a Russian scientist and then in Israel, began his studies on *Fusarium* in Russia in 1940s. He included *Fusarium* isolates collected from Russia, Israel, and some other countries in his studies and evaluated their taxonomic and mycotoxicological issues. His work was published as a monograph "*Fusarium* Species: Their Biology and Toxicology" [20]. His taxonomic approach was based on the taxonomic systems of Wollenweber and Reinking [2] and Gerlach and Nirenberg [19].

*Fusarium* has been known for over 200 years. Despite universal effort on developing effective management of *Fusarium* in plants, *Fusarium* diseases continue to be among the most important plant diseases. *Fusarium* species are among the most widespread fungi in the world and are of great economic importance. Many plant species are affected with at least one *Fusarium* disease [3, 4]. The American Phytopathological Society reported that 81 of 101 economically important plants have at least one *Fusarium* disease (www.apsnet.or/ online/common/search.asp). To understand importance of *Fusarium* diseases in plants, **Table 1** was prepared that shows *Fusarium* species, their host plants, and geographical

*Fusarium*: Historical and Continued Importance http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.74147 17

*Fusarium* **species Host plants Geographic distribution** *F. acuminatum* Legumes Temperate regions *F. andiyazi* Sorghum Africa, Australia, US *F. anthophilum* Many plant species Temperate regions *F. avenaceum* Carnations, cereals, legumes Temperate regions

*F. camptoceras* Banana, cacao Tropical and subtropical regions *F. circinatum* Conifers Chile, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, US

*F. denticulatum* Sweet potato Brazil, Cuba, Indonesia, US, Zambia

*F. foetens Begonia* species Germany, Netherlands *F. fujikuroi* Rice Rice-growing areas *F. globosum* Corn, wheat Africa, Japan *F. graminearum* Barley, corn, wheat Worldwide

*F. guttiforme* Pineapple Cuba, South America

*F. napiforme* Millet, sorghum Africa, Argentina, Australia

*F. hostae Hosta* species South Africa, US

*F. nelsonii* Alfalfa, sorghum South Africa *F. nisikadoi* Bamboo, wheat Japan

*F. heterosporum* Millet, other grasses Africa

*F. konzum* Grasses US *F. lactis* Fig US *F. lateritium* Woody plants Worldwide *F. mangiferae* Mango Africa, Asia, US *F. musarum* Banana Panama

*F. aywerte* Grasses Australia *F. babinda* Soil Australia *F. begoniae Begonia* species Germany *F. brevicatenulatum* Millet, *Striga asiatica* Africa *F. bulbicola* Bulb plant species Europe

*F. concentricum Musa* species Central America *F. crookwellense* Potato, cereals Temperate regions *F. culmorum* Cereals Temperate regions *F. decemcellulare* Trees Tropical regions

distributions.
