Rhodochytrium Lagerheim, 1893

Holotype species: Rhodochytrium spilanthidis Lagerheim

Original publication and holotype designation: Lagerheim, G. (1893). Rhodochytrium nov. gen., eine Uebergangsform von den Protococcaceen zu den Chytridiaceen. Botanische Zeitung 51: 43-51, 1 pl.

Request PDF

Description: Thalli unicellular, parasitic or endophytic in tissues of some vascular plants. Cells irregularly ellipsoidal, bottle-shaped or lobed, usually with several, simple or branched, cell wall projections; one appearing neck-like, the remaining similar to rhizoids. Cells uninucleate; chloroplasts absent (or not distinguishable?); protoplasts reddish or red during all developmental stages of cell and more or less packed with starch. Reproduction mostly sexual, occasionally asexual. Biflagellate gametes released by gelatinization of neck-like cell wall projection facing host surface. Gametes fuse to form zygospore or occasionally act as zoospores and undergo direct development. In both cases spores form tubular projection or "germination tube" that penetrates host plant. Seasonal life cycle. Rhodochytrium an occasional parasite in various plants (e.g., Ageratum, Ambrosia, Asclepias, Solidago); reported from southern US, South America and some countries with tropical climate (e.g., Indonesia). Genus of uncertain status with no recent records or studies.

Information contributed by: M. Puncochárová. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2018-09-24 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Verification of Data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.

Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=47497

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 24 September 2018. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 26 April 2024