A new species of Pythium with inflated sporangia and coiled antheridia, isolated from India

Pythium kashmirense sp. nov. was isolated from soil samples taken on the Himalayas at the height of 5300 feet in the Shivalik Hill Range of the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The oomycete has filamentous-inflated type sporangia and its antheridial filaments form loose loops around the female gametangia, and coil around the oogonial stalks. The new species is closely related to Pythium plurisporium, Pythium periilum, Pythium inflatum, and Pythium folliculosum. All of these oomycetes have filamentous-inflated type sporangia. However, P. kashmirense has its own distinguishing characteristics which can easily differentiate it among these related species. The sequences of the intern…

A new species of Pythium with filamentous sporangia having pectinolytic activities, isolated in the Burgundy region of France.

A new species, Pythium pectinolyticum (F-83.1), isolated from soil samples taken in the Burgundy region is being described here. This species is characterised by its filamentous non-inflated type of sporangia, smooth-walled mostly catenulate oogonia and very rare antheridia. This fungus is a very slow-growing organism on most of the solid media, but it grows well in liquid media and also on those containing pectin as the sole source of carbon. Morphological features are described here together with the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer 1 region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of the fungus, its comparison with related species, and its pectinolytic behaviour.

Biological control ofBotrytis cinereacausing grey mould disease of grapevine and elicitation of stilbene phytoalexin (resveratrol) by a soil bacterium

Botrytis cinerea Pers. was found to be highly pathogenic to the grapevine plant, producing the characteristic grey mould symptoms within 7 days of inoculation on vitroplants. A bacterial strain, isolated from soil, belonging to the genus Bacillus was found to be an antagonist of this disease causing fungus. The fungal attack on the grapevine acts as an elicitor to the production of phytoalexines like resveratrol. This compound was also formed when the leaves of the grapevine vitroplants were inoculated with the bacteria alone, and this activity was enhanced when a mixture of the pathogen and the antagonist bacteria was applied. Since resveratrol in wine is considered to be beneficial to hum…

Cell wall-degrading enzymes produced in vitro by isolates of Phaeosphaeria nodorum differing in aggressiveness

The relationships between in vitro production of cell wall-degrading enzymes and aggressiveness of three Phaeosphaeria nodorum isolates were investigated. When grown in liquid medium containing 1% cell wall from wheat leaves as the carbon source, the isolates secreted xylanase, α-arabinosidase, β-xylosidase, polygalacturonase, β-galactosidase, cellulase, β-1,3-glucanase, β-glucosidase, acetyl esterase and butyrate esterase. Time-course experiments showed different levels of enzyme production and different kinetics between isolates. A highly aggressive isolate produced more xylanase, cellulase, polygalacturonase and butyrate esterase than did the two weakly aggressive isolates. Xylanase was …

Saprolegnia multispora, a new oomycete isolated from water samples taken in a river in the Burgundian region of France

Saprolegnia multispora is described from water and floating organic matter taken in the Tille River, in the Burgundian region of France. The new species is illustrated and compared with other species of the genus. Distinguishing characteristics of S. multispora are the production of smooth-walled oogonia containing many subcentric oospores which are (1−) 11–70 (−100) per oogonium. The antheridial branches supplying the oogonia are predominantly diclinous, but at times these may be monoclinous and androgynous. Morphological features of the oomycete and the sequence of the ITS region of its rDNA as well as their comparison with related species are discussed in this article.

Isolation frequency and efficiency of mycoparasitic Pythium species in the West Mediterranean region of Turkey

Abstract A total of 132 mycoparasitic Pythium isolates were obtained from the soil samples taken from fruit orchards, vegetable fields, carnation greenhouses, sugarbeet fields and cereal fields in the West Mediterranean region of Turkey. The Oomycetes were isolated by using; surface soil dilution plate, sclerotia bait and precolonised plate methods. Isolates were identified as P. acanthophoron, P. amasculinum, P. lycopersicum, P. oligandrum, P. periplocum and P. paroecandrum, according to their morphological and molecular characteristics. The most commonly isolated mycoparasitic species were P. amasculinum and P. lycopersicum. The majority of the mycoparasites came from soil samples taken f…

A new species of Pythium with ornamented oogonia: morphology, taxonomy, internal transcribed spacer region of its ribosomal RNA, and its comparison with related species

Pythium spiculum sp. nov. was isolated from soil samples taken in a vineyard in the Burgundian region of France and from different locations in Spain and Portugal. The oomycete has spiny oogonia and does not sporulate readily. It resembles Pythium mamillatum Meurs, but has its own distinguishing characteristics. It also exhibits sickle-shaped as well as spherical appressoria which at times are associated with sex organs like those found in Pythium abappressorium Paulitz and Pythium contiguanum Paul. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region of its nuclear ribosomal DNA and a close look at its morphological characters have now enabled us to describe it as a new species. The intern…

CTAB‐PLGA Curcumin Nanoparticles: Preparation, Biophysical Characterization and Their Enhanced Antifungal Activity against Phytopathogenic Fungus Pythium ultimum

Pythium periplocum, an aggressive mycoparasite of Botrytis cinerea causing the gray mould disease of grape-vine.

Pythium periplocum Dreschler has been found to be an aggressive mycoparasite of Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of the gray mould disease of the grape-vine. When grown together, the former enters the latter's mycelium, branches freely within, coagulates its cytoplasm and finally tears its hyphae apart, bringing about widespread destruction of the grape-vine pathogen. Extensive coiling around the host, as reported in the case of other mycoparasites belonging to the genus Pythium, has not been observed here. The infected mycelium of B. cinerea fails to infect the grape-vine and does not induce the characteristic gray mould symptoms. Since P. periplocum is not a grape-vine parasite, it coul…

A new species of Pythium with ornamented oogonia: morphology, taxonomy, internal transcribed spacer region of its ribosomal RNA, and its comparison with related species.

Pythium spiculum sp. nov. was isolated from soil samples taken in a vineyard in the Burgundian region of France and from different locations in Spain and Portugal. The oomycete has spiny oogonia and does not sporulate readily. It resembles Pythium mamillatum Meurs, but has its own distinguishing characteristics. It also exhibits sickle-shaped as well as spherical appressoria which at times are associated with sex organs like those found in Pythium abappressorium Paulitz and Pythium contiguanum Paul. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region of its nuclear ribosomal DNA and a close look at its morphological characters have now enabled us to describe it as a new species. The intern…

A new species ofPythiumisolated from burgundian vineyards and its antagonism towardsBotrytis cinerea, the causative agent of the grey mould disease

During the course of an investigation on the pythiaceous fungi occurring in burgundian vineyards, three isolates of Pythium were found, all of which were characterised by spherical to lemoniform, proliferating sporangia. Only one out of these three isolates produced sexual characters (S-12) after prolonged incubation, but their asexual structures, temperature growth relationship and molecular characteristics were identical. Saprolegnia-type internal proliferation of the sporangia, and Phytophthora-type lemoniform, papillate sporangia were characteristic of all the three isolates. The type specimen is S-12 which is a medium slow growing saprophyte. The sequence of its ITS region of the rDNA …

Pythium terrestris, a new species isolated from France, its ITS region, taxonomy and its comparison with related species

Pythium terrestris (F-78) was isolated from soil samples taken in Lille in northern France. Its morphology resembles that of Pythium rostratum, and Pythium longandrum, a recently described species. However the antheridial and sporangial characteristics of this new species are unique. The fungus does not sporulate, the sporangium germinates directly into mycelium through germ tubes. The oogonia of P. terrestris are normally provided with hypogynous and monoclinous antheridia, at times the monoclinous antheridial branches wrap around the oogonia forming a complicated knot. Morphological features of this new species, together with the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region o…

ITS1 region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of the mycoparasite Pythium periplocum, its taxonomy, and its comparison with related species.

Pythium periplocum Drechsler was isolated from some soil samples taken in the botanical garden of Tenerife, Canary Islands. This fungus has been found to be an aggressive mycoparasite of Botrytis cinerea. It is unique amongst the members of the genus Pythium because of the character combination of inflated filamentous type of sporangia and ornamented oogonia. The taxonomic description of this fungus and its comparison with related species, together with the polymerase chain reaction of the internal transcribed spacer of its nuclear ribosomal DNA, are discussed in this article.

Pythium contiguanum nomen novum (syn. Pythium dreschleri Paul), its antagonism to Botrytis cinerea, ITS1 region of its nuclear ribosomal DNA, and its comparison with related species.

Pythium drechsleri Paul was described as a new species from soil samples taken in a salt-marsh of Arzew, Algeria [Paul, B. (1988) Une nouvelle espece de Pythium isolee d'une saline de l'ouest Algerien. Cryptogam. Mycol. 9, 325-333]. The name of the fungus, P. drechsleri, is a nomen invalidum, as it is a later homonym of P. drechsleri Rajgopalan and Ramakrishnan [Rajagopalan, S. and Ramakrishnan, K. (1971) Phycomycetes in agricultural soils with special reference to the Pythiaceae. Madras Univ. J. Sect. B 37,38, 100-117]. A new name, Pythium contiguanum is now being given to P. drechsleri Paul. This species is characterised by its contiguous inflated type of sporangia, smooth-walled oogonia …

Characterisation of Pythium paroecandrum and its antagonism towards Botrytis cinerea, the causative agent of grey mould disease of grape.

Pythium paroecandrum (B-30), an oomycete, was isolated from soil samples taken from a wheat field in Genlis in the Burgundy region of France and was found to check the growth and development of Botrytis cinerea, a serious grapevine pathogen. The oomycete is a fast-growing organism, living on vegetable debris, and can be recognised by its catenulate hyphal swellings, catenulate oogonia, and monoclinous antheridia. When grown together with B. cinerea, the causal agent of the grey mould disease of the grapevine, P. paroecandrum shows a pronounced antagonism and suppresses its growth and its aptitude to provoke the grey mould symptoms. Morphological features of this oomycete, its antagonism to …

Pythium burgundicum sp. nov. isolated from soil samples taken in French vineyards.

During the course of investigation on pythiaceous fungi occurring in the Burgundian vineyards, a new species of Pythium has been isolated. This oomycete is characterized by its nonproliferating and nonsporulating, spherical to cylindrical type of sporangia (hyphal bodies) germinating through germ tubes, smooth-walled oogonia that are supplied with hypogynous, monoclinous or rarely diclinous antheridia, and smooth-walled oospores. The antheridial cells are very prominent and are reminiscent of Pythium bifurcatum, Pythium segnitium and Pythium longandrum described previously by the author. The internal transcribed spacer region of the rRNA of this new species is composed of 883 bases, which i…

Pythium prolatumisolated from soil in the Burgundy region: a new record for Europe

Pythium prolatum Hendrix and Campbell has been isolated from a soil sample taken in the Burgundy region in France. The fungus is easily recognisable by its heavily ornamented oogonia with conical to mammiform spines, elongated sporangia, and its diclinous antheridia forming or originating from a tangled mass of hyphae. Descriptions of the morphological and reproductive aspects of Pythium prolatum, the polymerase chain reaction of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) of the ribosomal nuclear DNA as well as the nucleotide sequences of ITS1 coding for 5.8 S rRNA are given.

Pythium regulare sp. nov., Isolated from the Canary Islands, Its Taxonomy, Its Region of rDNA, and Comparison with Related Species

Pythium regulare (CI-34) was isolated from some soil samples taken in the Canary Islands (Spain). This new species is very closely related to P. irregulare isolated from pea roots in The Netherlands by Buisman in 1927. The species of Pythium are members of the kingdom Chromista. Pythium regulare is characterized by its ornamented oogonia bearing blunt or digitate spines, and its non-sporulating type of sporangia or hyphal bodies, its aplerotic oospores, its monoclinous and diclinous antheridia that at times crowd around the oogonia. The taxonomic description of this oomycete, the PCR of the internal transcribed region (spacers ITS1, ITS2, and the gene 5.8 S) of its ribosomal nuclear DNA as …

Pythium perplexum isolated from soil in France: morphology, molecular characterisation and biological control.

Pythium perplexum (F-926) was isolated from a soil sample taken in the Burgundy region in France. In 1907, it was mistakenly described by Bulter as P. vexans. Despite morphological resemblance, the comparison between the internal transcribed spacer 1 regions of the ribosomal DNA of the two fungi leaves no doubt of their different identities. P. perplexum was found to be highly pathogenic to cucumber seedlings. Damping-off disease of cucumber caused by P. perplexum can effectively be controlled by using the soil bacterium Serratia plymuthica (B-781). The details of the morphology and the molecular characterisation of P. perplexum and its biological control with S. plymuthica are described he…

Occurrence of resveratrol and pterostilbene in age-old darakchasava, an ayurvedic medicine from India

'Darakchasava' is a well known Indian herbal preparation of which the main ingredient is Vitis vinifera L. This 'ayurvedic' medicine is prescribed as a cardiotonic and also given for other disorders. HPLC analysis of this age old formulation revealed the presence of polyphenols like resveratrol and pterostilbene. These phenolic compounds are now known as antioxidants, cancer chemopreventive agents, and also known to reduce mortality from coronary heart disease by increasing high density lipoproteins like cholesterol and inhibiting platelet aggregation (Soleas, J.S., Diamandis, E.P., Goldberg, D.M., 1997. Resveratrol: a molecule whose time has come? and gone? Clin. Biochem. 30 (2), 91-113). …

ITS region of the rDNA of Pythium rhizosaccharum sp. nov. isolated from sugarcane roots: taxonomy and comparison with related species.

Pythium rhizosaccharum (F-1244) was isolated from soil samples taken in the rhizosphere of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) in the north-eastern India. This species is characterized by its smooth-walled, spherical sporangia and rarely formed sexual structures. When formed, the antheridial branches wrap around the oogonia and soon disappear after fertilization. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of its rDNA is comprised of 904 bases. The taxonomical description of this new species and its comparison with related species are given here, together with the nucleotide sequences of the ITS1 and ITS2, and the 5.8S gene of its ribosomal nuclear DNA.

Pythium carbonicum, a new species isolated from a spoil heap in northern France, the ITS region, taxonomy and comparison with related species.

Pythium carbonicum (F-72) sp. nov. was found in soil samples taken on the top of a spoil heap in northern France. The morphology of this new species resembles that of a recently described species: Pythium megacarpum. However, the antheridial and oogonial characteristics of this new species are unique, and the comparison of its ITS region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA indicates that this species is also related to the genus Phytophthora. The fungus does not sporulate, the sporangia germinate directly into mycelium through germ tubes. The oogonia of P. carbonicum are smooth-walled and also papillated, and are provided with monoclinous and diclinous antheridia that wrap around, forming a compli…

A new species of Pythium isolated from the Burgundy region in France.

Pythium nodosum sp. nov. has been isolated from a soil sample taken in the Burgundy region in France. The fungus has spherical to variously shaped proliferating sporangia, smooth-walled oogonia which are crowded with different antheridial branches making a complicated knot around the former, and aplerotic oospores. Morphological and reproductive aspects of Pythium nodosum as well as the PCR of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) of the ribosomal nuclear DNA coupled with restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis are described here. The nucleotide sequences of ITS1 encoding 5.8S rRNA is also given.

ITS1 region of the rDNA of Pythium megacarpum sp. nov., its taxonomy, and its comparison with related species.

Pythium megacarpum sp. nov., was isolated from a soil sample taken from a wheat field in Lille in northern France. It was mistakenly described as Pythium ostracodes Drechsler [Paul, B (1994) Cryptogam. -Mycol. 15,263-271]. Despite morphological resemblance, the comparison between the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 regions of the rDNA of the two fungi, leaves no doubt of their different identities. This species is unique because of its large oogonia and plerotic, thick walled oospores, its monoclinous antheridia with large antheridial cells and its lack of zoospores. The character combination of P. megacarpum and the ITS1 sequence of its rDNA, justifies the creation of a new species with…

Can the grey mould disease of the grape-vine be controlled by yeast?

Botrytis cinerea has been found to be highly pathogenic to ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Pinot noir’ cultivars of the grape-vine producing the characteristic grey mould symptoms within 7 days of inoculation to the vitro-plants. The yeast Pichia anomala (strain FY-102), isolated from apple skin, was found to be antagonistic to B. cinerea as it completely inhibited the appearance of the grey mould symptoms when grown together. The yeast was responsible for morphological changes such as coagulation and leakage of the cytoplasm of B. cinerea. The pathogen, when applied together with P. anomala, failed to bring about the grey mould symptoms on the grape-vine, suggesting that the yeast could control the expr…

Supression of Botrytis cinerea causing grey mould disease of grape vine (Vitis vinifera) and its pectinolytic activities by a soil bacterium

Abstract Botrytis cinerea was found to be pathogenic to grapevine, producing characteristic grey mould symptoms within 7 days of inoculation into vitroplants. An endospore forming bacterial strain (GI 070), Bacillus circulans, was found to be antagonist against this disease causing fungus. Under laboratory conditions the bacterial culture or its filtrate brings about complete suppression of the fungus in Petri-dishes and the grey mould symptoms on grapevine vitroplants. Pectinolytic activities (Polygalacaturonase, Pectin lyases) of Botrytis cinerea were also influenced by these bacteria. Details of the fungal parasite, its biological control and its pectinolytic activities are discussed in …

Pythium segnitiumsp. nov., isolated from the Canary Islands – its taxonomy, ITS region of rDNA, and comparison with related species

Pythium segnitium (CI-44) was isolated from some soil samples taken in the Canary Islands (Spain). This new species is a slow-growing fungus and is perfectly adapted to terrestrial habitat. It belongs to the group of Pythium that have smooth-walled oogonia, mostly hypogynous antheridia, and plerotic oospores. The fungus lacks sporangia, zoospores, and hyphal bodies are rarely formed. Thus the asexual reproduction, which is so common for fungi and especially for the aquatic ones, is completely lacking in this case. However the fungus reproduces sexually by the formation of oogonia, antheridia and oospores plentifully. The taxonomic description of this fungus, the nucleotide sequence of the i…

Pythium ornacarpum: a new species with ornamented oogonia isolated from soil in France

Pythium ornacarpum sp. nov. was isolated from a soil sample taken from Genlis in the Burgundy region of France. This species is unique because of its ornamented oogonia which are completely surrounded by antheridial filaments. The fungus is closely related to Pythium echinulatum Matthews. Morphological and reproductive aspects of this species as well as a study by PCR of the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) of the nuclear ribosomal gene and its comparison with related species are described here. The nucleotide sequence of the ITS1 region flaking the 5.8S rRNA of this species and other related species are also given here.

Intraspecific and within-isolate sequence variation in the ITS rRNA gene region of Pythium mercuriale sp. nov. (Pythiaceae)

Belbahri, Lassaad et al.

Characterisation of the yeast Pichia membranifaciens and its possible use in the biological control of Botrytis cinerea, causing the grey mould disease of grapevine.

Pichia membranifaciens strain FY-101, isolated from grape skins, was found to be antagonistic to Botrytis cinerea, the causal organism of the grey mould disease of the grapevine. When grown together on solid as well as liquid media, the yeast brings about the inhibition of this parasitic fungus, coagulation and leakage of its cytoplasm, and suppression of its ability to produce the characteristic grey mould symptoms on the grapevine plantlets. In vitro experiments confirm that this yeast can be used as a biological control organism against B. cinerea. An account of the molecular characterisation of P. membranifaciens (complete sequence of the ITS region of its ribosomal DNA, GenBank accessi…

Morphological and molecular taxonomy ofPythium longisporangiumsp. nov. isolated from the Burgundian region of France

During the course of an investigation on the Pythiaceous oomycetes occurring in the Burgundian vineyards, some species of Pythium possessing mainly hypogynous antheridia were found. These had been classified as oomycetes belonging to the ‘‘Pythium rostratum’’ group for a long time. Three of these isolates, having similar structures and growth, are very closely related to a recently described species, Pythium bifurcatum Paul. A close look at these, however, underlines some fundamental differences with the latter. Not all of them produce zoospores but have very large sporangia. The type specimen is F-1200 (B 76a) which is a medium-slow growing saprophyte. The sequence of the ITS region of the…

ITS region of Pythium canariense sp. nov., its morphology and its interaction with Botrytis cinerea.

A new species Pythium canariense (CI-07), isolated from soil samples taken in the San Nicolas region of the Canary islands (Gran Canaria, Spain), is being described here. This species is characterised by its spherical to pyriform, intercalary to catenulate sporangia, smooth-walled terminal oogonia supplied with monoclinous and diclinous antheridia which at times are branched and wrap around the female gametangia. The fungus has an antagonistic effect on Botrytis cinerea, the grey mould fungus. Morphological features are being given here together with the sequence of the complete internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of the fungus, its comparison with related specie…

Pythium stipitatumsp. nov. isolated from soil and plant debris taken in France, Tunisia, Turkey, and India

Pythium stipitatum is a slow-growing oomycete and has been isolated from soil samples and plant materials from France, Tunisia, Turkey and India. Its morphological characteristics are reminiscent of those of Pythium ramificatum, discovered in Algeria by the corresponding author. Unfortunately, the Algerian isolate was not deposited in any culture collection and ultimately got lost. Those were the days when molecular description of fungi was not a fashion; hence, no molecular characteristics of the Algerian isolates were deposited to the GenBank. Moreover, its coralloid antheridial branches made it an easy prey to be considered as synonymous to Pythium minus. Because there are no living stra…

Pythium glomeratum, a new species isolated from agricultural soil taken in north-eastern France, its ITS region and its comparison with related species.

Pythium glomeratum sp. nov. is described here. It was isolated from soil samples taken in the northern France in 1992, was wrongly identified as Pythium heterothallicum and was kept aside. Recently, the ITS region of the rDNA of this oomycete was amplified and sequenced. The differences between the sequence and a more detailed study of the morphological characters of these two species, revealed that both are related but different species. P. glomeratum is characterized by the presence of branched antheridia that wrap around the oogonia, aplerotic to almost plerotic oospores, and the lack of zoosporangia and zoospores. Taxonomical description of this new species, its comparison with related …

Suppression ofBotrytis cinereacausing the grey mould disease of grape-vine by an aggressive mycoparasite,Pythium radiosum

Pythium radiosum Paul has been found to be an aggressive mycoparasite of Botrytis cinerea which causes grey mould disease on the grape-vine. The mycoparasitic fungus enters the host mycelium, coagulates its protoplasm, empties its contents and finally comes out producing numerous ramifications and sexual structures. When the infected mycelium of B. cinerea is applied to the leaves of the grape-vine, the characteristic grey mould symptoms fail to appear. Since P. radiosum causes no harm to the grape-vine, it can be used as a biological control agent against B. cinerea. A brief account of the mycoparasite and its antagonism towards B. cinerea is discussed here.

A new mycoparasite, Pythium lycopersicum, isolated in Isparta, Turkey: morphology, molecular characteristics, and its antagonism with phytopathogenic fungi.

Pythium lycopersicum sp. nov. has been isolated from soil samples taken in an agricultural land in the Isparta region of Southern Turkey. This oomycete is characterized by its contiguous sporangia having globose to elongated elements linked with hyphal filaments, ornamented oogonia, and monoclinous antheridia with large antheridial cells. The oomycete is reminiscent of Pythium ornamentatum described by the corresponding author in 1987 from soil samples taken in Algeria. Sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rRNA show a close relationship with Pythium oligandrum and other mycoparasites possessing ornamented oogonia. Morphological and molecular features of this…

Pythium deliense causing severe damping-off of cucumber seedlings and its biological control by soil bacteria

Abstract Pythium deliense Meurs was isolated from cucumber plant debris and was found to be highly pathogenic to cucumber seedlings, causing severe damping-off disease. The fungus however was completely inhibited by a soil bacterium SU-48.1. In vitro and in vivo studies reveal that the disease can be controlled by using this bacterium. The details of the parasitic fungus, the antagonism between the fungus and the bacteria, and the biological control of the disease, are described in this article.

Achlya spiralis, a new aquatic oomycete with bent oogonial stalks, isolated from the Burgundian region of France

Achlya spiralis sp. nov. was isolated from water samples collected in the river Tille in the Burgundian region of France. The new oomycete is described, illustrated and compared with related species of the genus Achlya. It is characterized by the presence of smooth-walled oogonia that are usually borne on bent or twisted oogonial stalks; mainly monoclinous, androgynous and diclinous antheridial branches and eccentric oospores which generally do not mature or mature after a long period of time. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of its rRNA is comprised of 671 bases. The taxonomic description of this new species, its comparison with related oomycetes and the sequence of the ITS reg…

Pythium campanulatumsp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of maize, its taxonomy, ITS region of rDNA, and comparison with related species

Pythium campanulatum sp. nov. was isolated from some soil samples taken in the rhizosphere of maize (Zea mays) in north-eastern India. This species is characterized by the absence of zoospores and sporangia, antheridial branches wrapping around the oogonia leaving one to two campanulate antheridial cells after fertilization, and aplerotic oospores. The ITS region of its rDNA is comprised of 922 bases. This oomycete is closely related to Pythium orthogonon, Pythium nunn and Pythium toruloides. However, it has its own characteristic features and is completely devoid of zoospores. Taxonomic description of this new species and its comparison with related oomycetes, together with the sequence of…

A new species of Pythium isolated from a vineyard in France.

Pythium apiculatum sp. nov. is a new oomycete characterized by the presence of both ornamented and smooth-walled oogonia. The ornamentations are blunt, and at times, bent. The oomycete was isolated from soil samples taken in a vineyard in the Burgundian region of France. Morphologically, it resembles some species having ornamented oogonia like Pythium radiosum, Pythium echinulatum, and resembles, also the species having smooth-walled oogonia like Pythium hypogynum and Pythium acrogynum. However, the oomycete has its own distinguishing characteristics which, when combined with molecular features, enables us to describe it as a new species. The taxonomic description of this new oomycete, its …

ITS region of the rDNA of Pythium longandrum, a new species; its taxonomy and its comparison with related species.

Pythium longandrum (F-73.0) was isolated, from soil samples taken in Lille in northern France. Morphologically the fungus resembles closely Pythium rostratum, however its antheridial characters are unique. The oogonia of this species are provided with hypogynous and monoclinous antheridia. The antheridial cells are inflated and are probably the largest and longest for the genus. The internal transcribed spacer region of its nuclear ribosomal DNA indicates that it is entirely different from all other species of Pythium. This new species is characterized by its spherical to elongated sporangia, smooth-walled oogonia and hypogynous to monoclinous antheridia bearing long antheridial cells close…

Characterisation of a new species of Pythium isolated from a wheat field in northern France and its antagonism towards Botrytis cinerea causing the grey mould disease of the grapevine.

A new species, Pythium bifurcatum, isolated from soil samples taken from a wheat field in Lille in northern France is described here. The oomycete occurred thrice out of 50 samples. The type specimen is F-91, which is a slow-growing saprophyte living on vegetable debris and which can be recognised by its antheridial as well as oogonial characteristics, which are different from other known species of Pythium. When grown together with Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of the grey mould disease of the grapevine, Pythium bifurcatum shows a pronounced antagonism and suppresses its growth. Morphological features of this new species, its antagonism to B. cinerea, the sequences of the ITS region o…