Pythiaceae

Pythiaceae
	Water mould - Sporangia. B: Zoospore. C: Chlamydospore. D: Oospore
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Clade:	Diaphoretickes
Clade:	SAR
Clade:	Stramenopiles
Phylum:	Oomycota
Order:	Peronosporales
Family:	Pythiaceae; J. Schröt., 1893
Type genus
	Pringsh., 1858
Genera
	Cystosiphon; Diasporangium; Globisporangium; Lagenidium; Myzocytium; Pythium; Trachysphaera;

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.

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

The

sporangia may germinate via a germ tube or by release of motile zoospores

, depending on the species and the environmental conditions.

Economic importance

Some Pythium species cause "damping off" diseases in young plants (seedlings).

References

C.J. Alexopolous, Charles W. Mims, M. Blackwell et al., Introductory Mycology, 4th ed. (John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken NJ, 2004)
ISBN 0-471-52229-5