It would undoubtedly be very easy to start this section by writing about what arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are and when the first of these organisms was described. However, we live in a unique moment in the history of mycorrhizology, where different research groups eloquently discuss the taxonomy, systematics and evolution of these different symbionts. In this scenario, doubts and discussions by "non-taxonomists" about which classification system should be used and which nomenclature is correct are noticeable. Without a doubt, it is very complicated for a mycorrhizologist or general biologist to understand all the nuances and details involved in current classification systems, as they involve both morphological and molecular tools. It often seems like a contest of egos or a private war between research groups. This is not a scenario of war, but of a confrontation of ideas, which strengthen concepts and overturn paradigms. Classification systems, in the past, remained valid and immutable for many years, reflecting an erroneous idea that the organization of species would be static or immutable.

However, taxonomy as well as systematics are dynamic sciences and reflect, as far as possible, a natural organization of organisms. This is why we see so many changes today, this is a reflection of the greater number of new discoveries, which allow us to expand our understanding of kinship relationships between species. Thinking that a classification system should remain in force for longer and define models of conduct for advances in taxonomy is to ignore new discoveries and mitigate scientific development. Despite being the author of a classification system and fervently defending it, I do not believe that it is an immutable system, much less the correct one. The body of taxonomic knowledge is not immutable and only reflects the state of our knowledge, which must be recognized as negligible for Glomeromycotina, since only around 304 species are known and less than half of them have molecular data. No doubt the ideas we defend today will be considered wrong or even "bizarre" when new ideas are presented. Therefore, the intention here is to show the knowledge acquired over the years, always with an open mind to new discoveries and the breaking of paradigms that make this science so fascinating.

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Bruno Tomio Goto

March 30, 2018

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