Labyrinthula sp., a marine slime mold producing the symptoms of wasting disease in eelgrass, Zostera marina

Muehlstein, Lisa K.; Porter, David D.; Short, Frederick T.

doi:10.1007/bf00392553

Cited by 126 publications

(124 citation statements)

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“…The Labyrinthulomycete Labyrinthula zosterae, a genus related to Phytophthora, has been identified as the pathogen causing wasting disease [58,59]. Although L. zosterae has been shown to be able to cause wasting disease symptoms [58], not all species from the Labyrinthula genus are pathogenic [59]. Indeed, recent work has shown that current isolates from European Z. marina populations display varying virulence [60,61], and Labyrinthula spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Marine Phytophthora species can hamper conservation and restoration of vegetated coastal ecosystems

Govers

Veld²,

Meffert³

et al. 2016

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Phytophthora species are potent pathogens that can devastate terrestrial plants, causing billions of dollars of damage yearly to agricultural crops and harming fragile ecosystems worldwide. Yet, virtually nothing is known about the distribution and pathogenicity of their marine relatives. This is surprising, as marine plants form vital habitats in coastal zones worldwide (i.e. mangrove forests, salt marshes, seagrass beds), and disease may be an important bottleneck for the conservation and restoration of these rapidly declining ecosystems. We are the first to report on widespread infection of Phytophthora and Halophytophthora species on a common seagrass species, Zostera marina (eelgrass), across the northern Atlantic and Mediterranean. In addition, we tested the effects of Halophytophthora sp. Zostera and Phytophthora gemini on Z. marina seed germination in a full-factorial laboratory experiment under various environmental conditions. Results suggest that Phytophthora species are widespread as we found these oomycetes in eelgrass beds in six countries across the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. Infection by Halophytophthora sp . Zostera, P. gemini , or both, strongly affected sexual reproduction by reducing seed germination sixfold. Our findings have important implications for seagrass ecology, because these putative pathogens probably negatively affect ecosystem functioning, as well as current restoration and conservation efforts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine Phytophthora species can hamper conservation and restoration of vegetated coastal ecosystems

Govers

Veld²,

Meffert³

et al. 2016

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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“…In order to recover as many Labyrinthula isolates as possible, leaf surfaces were not sterilized. We used agar-nutrient media following the serum method described by Muehlstein et al (1988), except that we used an enriched formulation found to produce more robust colonies in the short-term (D. Martin pers. obs.).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most often these seagrasses exhibited necrotic lesions that were attributed to Labyrinthula infection, but not all isolates produced disease. For example, Muehlstein et al (1988) found two morphotypes-one causing disease, one not-present on Zostera marina (eelgrass). Similarly, using DNA sequence evidence, Bockelmann et al (2012) identified three phylotypes from Z. marina, of which two were genetically dissimilar to the disease producing isolate.…”

Section: Communicated By Kenneth Duntonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional, Phylogenetic and Host-Geographic Signatures of Labyrinthula spp. Provide for Putative Species Delimitation and a Global-Scale View of Seagrass Wasting Disease

Martín

Chiari

Boone

et al. 2016

Estuaries and Coasts

102

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Seagrass meadows form ecologically and economically valuable coastal habitat on every continental margin except the Antarctic, but their areal extent is declining by approximately 2-5 % per year. Seagrass wasting disease is a contributing factor in these declines, with the protist Labyrinthula identified as the etiologic agent. To help elucidate the role of Labyrinthula spp. in global seagrass declines, we surveyed roughly one fourth of all seagrass species to identify Labyrinthula diversity at the strain and/or species level, combining results from culturing methods and two common nuclear DNA markers: the ITS and 18S regions of the ribosomal RNA gene complex. After assaying a subset of the resulting isolates (of which 170 were newly sequenced), we produced a cladogenic context for putative seagrasspathogenic versus non-pathogenic Labyrinthula while also defining host and geographic ranges. Assays also suggest that pathogenicity is consistently high (when present; and, even when comparing susceptibility of US East-versus West Coast Zostera marina hosts) while virulence is variable, that some isolate-host combinations have the potential for host cross-infection, and that several modes of transmission can be effective. Taken together, these data provide additional means for delimiting putative species of Labyrinthula, suggesting at least five seagrass-pathogenic and perhaps ten or more non-pathogenic marine Bspecies^, yielding a working definition for ecologists and epidemiologists attempting to reconcile the sundry data related to seagrass wasting disease.

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“…Labyrinthula species have been found to be the causal agent of the wasting disease of eelgrass Zostera sp. (Young 1943, Muehlstein et al 1988.…”

Section: The Habitat: Unravelling Substrate-species Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing evidence for the important role of Labyrinthulomycetes in marine ecosystems

Raghukumar¹,

Damare

2011

Botanica Marina

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This review summarizes increasing evidence for the role of Labyrithulomycetes in marine ecosystems gathered over the last six decades. It focuses on their diversity, habitats, biomass, productivity and overall role in food webs and remineralization. Earlier studies contributed enormously to the cultured diversity of Labyrinthulomycetes. In recent years, their uncultured diversity has been demonstrated in exotic environments like the deep sea and anoxic waters. These findings emphasize the need for novel culture methods to grow these organisms. Many species seem to be substrate-specific in their occurrence. Their commensalistic or mutualistic occurrence in marine invertebrates deserves attention.The biomass of Labyrinthulomycetes in the water column may often match or even exceed that of bacteria, although such occurrences seem to be seasonal. There is a major knowledge gap on their productivity and turnover in the water column. The high biomass and production of several degradative enzymes indicate their importance as remineralizers in the ocean. However, the mechanisms by which they overcome bacterial competition are not clear. It is likely that they occupy special niches, such as marine aggregates. One role of the Labyrinthulomycetes suggested in this review, based on preliminary experiments, is that of 'left-over scavenging', following bacterial growth.

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Labyrinthula sp., a marine slime mold producing the symptoms of wasting disease in eelgrass, Zostera marina

Cited by 126 publications

References 23 publications

Marine Phytophthora species can hamper conservation and restoration of vegetated coastal ecosystems

Marine Phytophthora species can hamper conservation and restoration of vegetated coastal ecosystems

Functional, Phylogenetic and Host-Geographic Signatures of Labyrinthula spp. Provide for Putative Species Delimitation and a Global-Scale View of Seagrass Wasting Disease

Increasing evidence for the important role of Labyrinthulomycetes in marine ecosystems

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