There is no doubt in writing genus/species names as they have to be in italics, for example Escherichia coli. But sometimes we need to refer the whole genus. What is the conventional way of representing the genus name, italics or non-italics? Pseudomonas or Pseudomonas?
Always italic, but worth to remember that 'sp' or 'spp' must not be written in italics.
Italics.... Genus and the binominal species name are latin taxonomic ranks. Just as an addition: formerly correct would be Genus species Author Year [Escherichia coli (Migula 1895) or Escherichia Castellani & Chalmers 1919] ....
If "sp." or "spp." is added after the italicized generic name, note that the former is singular and the latter is plural (i.e. "spp." means more than one species).
There is a microbiological viewpoint (and journal-related instruction) that "sp." or "spp." must follow the generic name when only the generic name is used. However, as an ex-taxonomist, I do not agree with this school of thought. It can be an unnecessary pedantic complication, especially when it is not known whether only one species is being referred to ("sp.") or more than one ("spp."). In many contexts, use of the generic name on its own is fine.
The scientific names of animals follows certain rules outlined in the 'International Code of Zoological Nomenclature'. The scientific name of a species is binomial (the genus name and the species name) or trinomial (the genus name, the species name and the subspecies name). These names are always printed in italics.
I quite agree with Munira Nasiruddin. Except that in my opinion, where the prefix “sp” (in case of one species) or “spp”(in case of more than one species) or “subsp”/ “ssp” (in case of one subspecies) or “subspp” /”sspp” (in case of more than one subspecies) are used instead of full names in the binomial or trinomial zoological nomenclature, the “sp”, “spp”, “subsp”/ “ssp”, “subspp” / “sspp”, would probably not require to be in italics. But where the number of species is not sure, then it is fine to use the generic name alone but in italics as suggested by Miles B Markus
Year 2020 Update: The conventional way when writing only the genus, without or without sp./spp., is in italics.
I personally think that Latin genera should be in italics because they are part of the species nomencalture, they refer to a / a few / all of the species of a genus, and they are confirmed non-English words (mostly Latin). It has been considered grammatically correct to italicise non-English words.
Yes: when a Latinized genus name appears on its own, it must be italicized (like a species or subspecific name). There is no other option. However, higher taxa are never italicized.
According to 'International Code of Zoological Nomenclature' the generic name should always be typed in italics.
The CDC recommends "Italics are used for bacterial and viral taxa at the level of family and below. (...) For organisms other than bacteria, fungi, and viruses, scientific names of taxa above the genus level (families, orders, etc.) should be in roman type.". Names of genera (e.g. Pseudomonas) should be always italicized.
With reference to Mauricio's comment above, whether or not they apply this principle to fungi too (italics for family names) is not immediately clear to the reader. See:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/page/scientific-nomenclature
It is a rule to italicize a Latinized genus name whether it stands with the specific name, alone, or with an unidentified specific name(s), as below :
Chilocorus nigritus
Chilocorus
Chilocorus spp.
Chilocorus sp.
NB: sp. (singular) and spp. (plural) are not italicized, because they are not scientific names.
If referring to the genus, use italics and an initial cap, whether or not it stands alone.
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