Classification of Wild Species to Facilitate Conservation and Gene Transfer

Abstract

Correct identity of the wild relatives of cultivated species with distinctive features and verified taxonomic entity is key to facilitate their successful utilization in breeding programs of cultivated species by transfer of desirable gene. Unfortunately, the issue of synonymy, i.e., multiple names for a single species entity, has been critical in the assessment of biological diversity in general and wild species diversity. A systematic study is essential to estimate wild species diversity, with an objective of reducing or solving the misunderstanding about such lacunae/gaps. The biological species concept plays a key role in this regard, though it is underappreciated in all biodiversity matters (Mallet 1995), including genetic resources, especially with those concerned with species diversity and synonymy, affecting their use. Widespread acceptance of the biological species concept (Mayr 1942) led many taxonomists in the mid-twentieth century to treat earlier names as synonyms of large polytypic species. Modern workers, perhaps increasingly motivated by the phylogenetic interests, lay greater emphasis on diagnosis of taxa and less on their reproductive limits (Cracraft 1989). Thus, a trend for reutilization of names that were earlier treated synonyms has been seen. Nearly 15% of the names of all valid species are today considered synonyms.