Pythiaceae
Water mould - Phytophthora forms: A: Sporangia. B: Zoospore. C: Chlamydospore. D: Oospore
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Chromalveolata
Phylum:	Heterokontophyta
Class:	Oomycetes
Order:	Peronosporales
Family:	Pythiaceae
Genera
See text.

Pythiaceae is family of water moulds. The family includes plant pathogenic fungus-like organisms in the genus Phytophthora; as well as serious plant and animal pathogens in the genus Pythium.

Contents 1 Lifecycle 2 Reproduction 3 Economic Importance 4 References

[edit] Lifecycle

• Live on land (terrestrial), and in water (aquatic), and a combination of the two, (amphibious)

• Live as deadly parasites, causing some serious plant and animal diseases when terrestrial.

• The diploid (2N) life stage predominates, with a short haplophase initiated during sexual reproduction as well as asexual reproduction (homothallism predominates in the Family) to fuse gametes.

[edit] Reproduction

• The sporangia may germinate via a germ tube or by release of motile zoospores, depending on the species and the environmental conditions.

[edit] Economic Importance

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

[edit] References

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

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