Chytridiomycetes

This maybe of help for UG+PG Botany students studying mycology. It's about the general account of class Chytridiomycetes. Good for quick revision and information.
*Critics are very welcomed*

1. ChytridioMycota THE ‘CHYTRIDS’ By SOURADEEP BANERJEE, M.Sc Lecturer, Dept of Botany J.K.College

2. Idea about the origin of chytrids and how are they related to the higher fungi Here ‘ mya ’ means million years ago So accordingly it clearly depicts that chytrid have originated from a separate lineage/ from different ancestors than those of it’s higher fungi. Though the ancestors of ascomycetes and basidiomycetes are same but chytrids have separate ancestors

3. Introduction

4. Thallus structure

5. Types of thallus

6. Allomyces sp.

7. Cell wall X-ray diffraction and other microscopic techniques have shown presence of chitin- a polymer of NAGA, as well as cellulose. As chitin is present in other higher classes of fungi like basidiomycetes and ascomycetes. Whereas oomycetes have presence of cellulose in their cell wall. This clearly depicts that the chytrids shows homology with the higher and advanced classes, thus is of evolutionary importance . Members of hypochytrdiomycota like Hypochitrium and Rhizidiomyces shows presence of both chitin and cellulose in their cell wall.

8. Asexual reproduction Zoospore in sporangia Autospore in sporangia Fragmentation- polycentric and resting spores Vegetative stage is generally haploid

9. Septosperma sp. resting spore Operculate discharge in Operculomyces sp.

10. Inoperculate discharge 1% toluidine blue

11. The zoospore Round or pear shaped sac containing one or more exit papillae Divided into two types: - Inoperculate- no operculum; Olpidium , Cladochytrium etc. where the discharge tubes penetrates the exterior of the host cell and then dissolves Operculate- operculum present i.e. a special line of weakness which breaks open at the tip of the discharge tube. Eg . Chytridium , Nowakoskiella etc. Zoospores are though similar in size but sporangia number and sizes varies within species, thus is of taxonomic importance .

12. pollen zoospore

13. Continue… This varying number of sporangia and their sizes depends upon the nutrition and conditions they grow around. This conclusion is supported by a study on Rhizophlyctis rozea . It has been seen that in culture media with less carbs, sporangia containing only one or two zoospores have been observed. Whereas cellulose rich media contained large sporangia with hundred of such spores. The zoospores are separated from each other by a spongy fluid which may absorb water during maturation and help in the sporangia to burst open Structure of the zoospores though vary among different genera but are similar within same genera (D. J. S. Barr,1990) thus it is of taxonomic importance .

14. The flagellar structure t.s . The concentration of mitochondria is high towards the base of the kinetosome Another complex which helps in the movement and directing the flagella of zoospore is known as MLC (microbody lipid complex) consisting of a large lipid granule, microbodies, mitochondria, smooth cisternae and Rumposome (fenestrated cisternae) Dormant kinetosome is also found in many members of this family

15. The flagella is of whiplash type as similar as those of eukaryotes (study the structure in details of eukaryotic flagella) a smooth membrane enclosing the cylindrical shaft, along with the long axoneme with 9 doublets and two centrally placed singlet microtubular rings The flagellum consists of three main portions- the flagellum proper, the kinetosome and the transitional zone. The evolutionary significance of the dormant kinetosome is that, maybe the ancestors of chytrids were biflagellate and during the course of evolution they might have lost it Sometimes along with the doublets of A- and B- rings there maybe a presence of third ring or the C- ring of microtubule.

16. FC- fenestrated cisternae Mt- microtubule K- kinetosome F- flagella TP- terminal plate P/KP- kinetosome props FB- fibrillar body NFC- non-flagellated kinetosome Va - vesiculated area L- lipid body Mb- microbodies

17. The zoospore germination: Generally the zoospore either absorbs or cut off it’s flagella from their body before encysting themselves. Holocarpic parasites encyst on the host surface and injects its cytoplasmic content inside the host cell In monocentric parasites the zoospore forms cyst and develops rhizoids from one point. The cyst itself matures and enlarges to form zoosporangium. Sometimes prosporangium also develops. In polycentric parasites, the zoospores forms limited rhizomycelium , which again later on give rise to more swollen structure which ultimately gives rise to more rhizomycelium . Germination maybe from one point monopolar ( Chytridiales ) and bipolar ( Blastocladiales ).

18. Isomorphic alternation of generation The gametothallic (haploid) and sporothallic (diploid) bodies morphology is same. The sexual reproduction are of two types- Gametogamy and Gamentangio-gametangiogamy Gametogamy are of: - Isogamy Anisogamy Oogamy Somatogamy

19. Oogamy

20. A proper diagram illustrating the sexual and asexual reproduction of Allomyces

21. Somatogamy process: - Rhizoids from uninucleate contributing thallus together fuses and forms anastomosis. Cytoplasm and nuclei from both these contributing thallus comes to the point of anastomosis, which ultimately becomes a globular resting body These resting body is binucleate and full of cytosol causing the contributing thalli to become empty Two nuclei later fuses to form a diploid body which ultimately gives rise to a sporangium which are not genetically dissimilar than their parents.

22. Somatogamy ( Chytrimyces hyalinus )

23. Conjugation takes place only when a small donor produces a conjugation tube to a larger recipient gametangium. Following the nuclear fusion between the two gametangium, the larger recipient forms a thick covering outside forming a diploid resting sporangium. After maturation the sporangium forms presporangium and gives rise to thin walled meiosporangium, where obviously the meosis takes place, giving rise to haploid spores. A variant of this type of sexual diferrentiation ( gametangio-gametangigamy ) is seen in Rhizophydium , where copulation between the gametangium of a rhizoid forming thallus and a motile gamete that encyst directly on the gametangium.

24. Conjugation Meiosporangium

25. Members of Chytridiomycetes and their hosts: - Synchitrium endobioticum - black wart of potato Olpidium brassicae - zoospores are vectors for virus causing big vein disease of lettuce Colleomyces spp.- pathogen of freshwater invertebrates such as copepods and mosquito larvae Neocallimastigales - present in gut of herbivorous mammals, and feed the herbage

26. Referances : - Webster, J., & Weber, R. W. S. (2007). Introduction to fungi 3 ed.

27. The end