Pythiaceae
Family of water moulds
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pythiaceae is a family of oomycetes. The family includes serious plant and animal pathogens in the genus Pythium. The family was circumscribed by German mycologist Joseph Schröter in 1893.
| Pythiaceae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Water mould - Phytophthora forms: A: Sporangia. B: Zoospore. C: Chlamydospore. D: Oospore | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Sar |
| Clade: | Stramenopiles |
| Phylum: | Oomycota |
| Class: | Peronosporomycetes |
| Order: | Peronosporales |
| Family: | Pythiaceae J. Schröt., 1893 |
| Type genus | |
| Pythium Pringsh., 1858 | |
| Genera | |
| |
Lifecycle
- Live on land (terrestrial), and in water (aquatic), or a combination of the two (amphibious).
- Most are deadly parasites, causing root rot and damping off on plants and pythiosis on animals.
- The diploid (2N) life stage predominates, with a short haplophase initiated during sexual reproduction before the fusion of the gametes. Most species are homothallic.
Reproduction
Economic importance
Some Pythium species cause "damping off" diseases in young plants (seedlings).
