Cytological variation in zoospores of Spizellomyces (Chytridiomycetes)

Abstract

The principal cytological features and their variations are described in zoospores of 38 isolates belonging to seven species of Spizellomyces. This genus is distinguished from others in the Spizellomycetaceae by the orientation of the microtubules and the position of the nucleus relative to the kinetosome in the zoospore. Microtubules run apparently at random into the cytoplasm from a microtubule-organizing center (spur) on one side of the kinetosome. The nucleus is anteriorly or centrally positioned with a heel-like process extending to near the proximal face of the kinetosome, or it can be posteriorly positioned and elongate with one end close to the kinetosome. Differences between species are reflected by the position and shape of the nucleus, the extent of the endoplasmic reticulum which in some species circumscribes lipid globules, the presence or absence of an apparent connection by fibrillar material between the kinetosome and a nonfunctional centriole, and the morphology of the microtubule-organizing center. The zoospores of Spizellomyces punctatus (Koch) D. Barr, S. plurigibbosus (D. Barr) D. Barr, and S. palustris (Gaertner) D. Barr are cytologically similar, but those of S. acuminatus (D. Barr) D. Barr, S. dolichospermus D. Barr, S. lactosolyticus D. Barr and S. pseudodichotomus (Umphlett) D. Barr each have one or more distinctive characteristic. Spizellomyces dolichospermus and S. pseudodichotomus also have some cytological characteristics in common with the genus Kochiomyces.