Rediscovery of an unusual chytridiaceous fungus new to the order Rhizophydiales.
The newest order in Chytridiomycota, Rhizophydiales, shows remarkable genetic divergence and zoospore ultrastructural diversity. From submersed mud from a marsh near an oligotrophic lake in the Patagonia region of Argentina, we isolated a previously undescribed chytrid in Rhizophydiales with unique 28S rRNA and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences and a distinctive zoospore and thallus. In a combined LSU + 5.8S phylogeny of representative taxa in the order, the nearest relative to this new species is Rhizophlyctis harderi, and their zoospores share several similar character states. A new genus is erected for this chytrid, the first to be brought into pure culture from this region.
Letcher
Peter M
PM
Dept. of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa AL 35487, USA. letch006@bama.ua.edu
Powell
Martha J
MJ
Viusent
M Claudia
MC
D008411:Chytridiomycota / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D031317:Liquidambar / Q000382:microbiology; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D028223:Pinus / Q000382:microbiology; D011058:Pollen / Q000382:microbiology; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal