The College of Agriculture at the University of Basra organized a seminar on "Species Identification in Fungal Pathogens and Methods of Distinguishing Between Subspecies Taxonomic Levels."

The seminar, presented by Dr. Alaa Awda Maneh, aimed to discuss the importance of establishing clear and unified criteria for diagnosing plant pathogens, going beyond the traditional species level. It emphasized that an agreed-upon classification system contributes to the development of consistent and effective control measures, which is essential for addressing the challenges of global food security, climate change, and the shrinking of agricultural land.

The seminar highlighted the need for mycologists and plant pathologists to pay greater attention to accurate species identification. Farmers require clear and simple names, while complex scientific names can hinder disease identification and control.

The seminar stressed the importance of striking a balance between precise scientific names and simplified common names to ensure effective communication between researchers and farmers.

Media and Government Communication Division / College of Agriculture