Blastocladiomycota

Blastocladiomycota is one of eight currently recognized divisions within the kingdom Fungi.[2] Blastocladiomycota was originally the order Blastocladiales within the division Chytridiomycota until molecular and zoospore ultrastructural characters were used to demonstrate it was not monophyletic with Chytridiomycota.[1] The order was first erected by Petersen for a single genus, Blastocladia, which was originally considered a member of the oomycetes.[3] Accordingly, members of Blastocladiomycota are often referred to colloquially as "chytrids." However, some feel "chytrid" should refer only to members of Chytridiomycota.[4] Thus, members of Blastocladiomyota are commonly called "blastoclads" by mycologists. Alternatively, members of Blastocladiomycota, Chytrid iomycota, and Neocallimastigomycota lumped together as the zoosporic true fungi. Blastocaldiomycota contains 5 families and approximately 12 genera.[5] This early diverging branch of kingdom Fungi is the first to exhibit alternation of generations.[6] As well, two (once) popular model organismsAllomyces macrogynous and Blastocladiella emersoniibelong to this division.[4]

Morphology
Morphology in Blastocladiomycota varies greatly. For example, members of Coelomycetaceae are simple, unwalled, and plasmodial in nature. Some species in Blastocladia are monocentric, like the chytrids, while others are polycentric. The most remarkable are those members, such as Allomyces that demonstrate determinant, differentiated growth. [3][4]

Reproduction/Life Cycle
Sexual Reproduction
As stated above, some members of Blastocladiomycota exhibit alternation of generations. Members of this division also exhibit a form of sexual reproduction known as anisogamy. [3] Anisogamy is the fusion of two sexual gametes that differ in morphology, usually size. [4] In Allomyces, the thallus (body) is attached by rhizoids, and has an erect trunk on which reproductive organs are formed at the end of branches. During the haploid phase, the thallus forms male and female gametangia that release flagellated gametes. Gametes attract one another using pheromones and eventually fuse to form a Zygote. The germinated zygote produces a diploid thallus with two types of sporangia: thin-walled zoosporangia and thick walled resting spores (or sporangia). The thin walled sporangia release diploid zoospores. The resting spore serves as a means of enduring unfavorable conditions. When conditions are favorable again, meiosis occurs and haploid zoospores are released. These germinate and grow into haploid thalli that will produce male and female gametangia and gametes. [4]

Asexual Reproduction

Similar to Chytridiomycota, members of Blastocladiomycota produce asexual zoospores to colonize new substrates. In some species, a curious phenomenon has been observed in the asexual zoospores. From time to time, asexual zoospores will pair up and exchange cytoplasm but not nuclei.[3]

Ecological Roles
Similar to Chytridiomycota, members of Blastocladiomycota are capable of growing on refractory materials, such as pollen, keratin, cellulose, and chitin. [3] The best known species, however, are the parasites. Members of Catenaria are parasites of nematodes, midges, crustaceans, and even another blastoclad, Coelomyces.[4] Members of the genus Physoderma and Urophlyctis are obligate plant parasites.[4] Of economic importance is Physoderma maydis, a parasite of maize and the causal agent of brown spot disease. [4] Also of importance are the species of Urophlyctis that parasitize alfalfa.[7] However, ecologically, Physoderma are important parasites of many aquatic and marsh angiosperms.[3] Also of human interest, for health reasons, are members of Coelomyces, and unusual parasite of mosquitoes that require an alternate crustacean host (the same one parasitized by members of Catenaria) to complete its life cycle.[3] Others that are ecologically interesting include a parasite of water bears and the zooplankter Daphnia.