Chytridiales
Chytridiales (pronunciation: kɪˈtrɪdiːəliːz) is an order of fungi in the phylum Chytridiomycota. The etymology of the term is derived from the Greek word "chytridion", meaning "little pot", referring to the structure that contains unreleased zoospores.
Description
Chytridiales are primarily aquatic and are found in fresh and salt water, as well as in moist soil and other damp environments. They are unique among fungi in producing zoospores that are motile. These zoospores are typically unicellular and have a single, posterior, whiplash flagellum.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of Chytridiales involves both sexual and asexual reproduction. The asexual phase is characterized by the production of zoospores, while the sexual phase involves the fusion of gametes to form a zygote, which then undergoes meiosis to produce zoospores.
Taxonomy
The order Chytridiales is divided into several families, including the Chytridiaceae, Rhizophydiaceae, and Polychytriaceae. Each of these families contains several genera and species of Chytridiales.
Pathogenicity
Some species of Chytridiales are pathogenic and can cause diseases in plants and animals. The most notable of these is Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which causes chytridiomycosis in amphibians, a disease that has been linked to global amphibian declines.
See Also
References
This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.