Aquatic fungi growing on dead fragments of submerged plants

Abstract

The authors investigated the dead fragments of 22 species of submerged plants in the water from three limnological and trophical different water bodies (spring, river and pond). A total of 184 species of aquatic fungi, including 119 zoosporic and 65 conidial species were found on the fragments investigated plants. The most common fungus species were Aphanomyces laevis, Saprolegnia litoralis, Pythium rostratum (zoosporic fungi) and Acrodictys elaeidicola, Anguillospora longissima, Angulospora aquatica, Lemonniera aquatica, Mirandina corticola, Tetracladium marchalianum, Tetracladium maxiliformis, Trinacrium subtile (conidial fungi).Most fungus species were observed on the specimens of Elodea canadensis (33 fungus species), Hippuris vulgaris f. submersa (33), Myriophyllum spicatum (34) and Potamogeton crispus (33), fewest on Ceratophyllum demersum (24), Fontinalis dalicarlica and Potamogeton nitens (each 25).The most fungi were growing in the water from River Supras´l (107), the fewest in the water from Pond Dojlidy (99). Some aquatic fungus species were observed in the water of only one of the three water bodies -in Pond Dojlidy (30), in Spring Jaroszo´wka (32) and in the River Supras´l (39) species. Seventy-five species growing only on fragments of single submerged plants. A number of zoosporic and conidial species (22 and four, respectively) appeared new to Polish waters. Out of these 119 zoosporic species, some are known as parasites or necrotrophs of fish.

Transcriptome Analysis of the Entomopathogenic Oomycete Lagenidium giganteum Reveals Putative Virulence Factors

“…These studies demonstrated that plants such as corn, rice, sorghum, onions, soybeans, tomatoes, cotton, carrots, lettuce, sunflowers, and duckweed are not affected by prolonged exposure to high dosages of several developmental stages of L. giganteum (21). This oomycete remains primarily a host-specific pathogen of mosquito larvae that is not typically associated with plants, although, like many other aquatic fungi and oomycetes (24), it can also grow saprophytically on rotten vegetation (25).…”

Fungi in lake ecosystems

“…Czeczuga et al 2005). In recent years, molecular methods such as clone libraries, fingerprint analysis, and phylogenetic trees have increasingly been used in aquatic mycology to include the 'unculturable' and sterile (i.e.…”

“…Similar to the LMDM, the use of micromanipulators permits studying interspecies relationships independent of experimental setups and may help connecting species to their natural substrate preferences. Conventional studies, based on microscopical examination and identification (Czeczuga et al 2005, van Ryckegem et al 2007) can be used to update sequence databases and to complete original descriptions with molecular definitions.…”

“…Aquatic hyphomycetes have been found among other fungal groups at high abundances on leaf litter (Nilsson 1964, Casper 1965, and there is a naturally high fungal diversity on all kinds of dead macrophytes and plant litter including their aufwuchs in lakes (Casper 1965, Sparrow 1968, El-Hissy et al 1990, Czeczuga 1991, Hyde & Goh 1998, Wong et al 1998, Cai et al 2002, Luo et al 2004, Orlowska et al 2004, Czeczuga et al 2005, Nechwatal et al 2008. In addition to plant litter, there is a substantial influx of dead animals, insects, feathers, exuviae, fish-spawn, pollen, spores, and seeds.…”

“…Czeczuga et al (2005) examined dead and submerged fragments from 22 plant species in a spring, a river, and a pond. Fungal identification was by microscopic examination of antheridia and oogonia of zoosporic fungi and conidiophores and conidia of hyphomycetes.…”