Infection and morphogenesis of Pythium marinum in species of Porphyra and other red algae

Abstract

A strain of Pythium marinum (Peronosporales: Pythiaceae) from Puget Sound, Washington, was isolated from lesions of Porphyra nereocystis. The fungus grew on a modified Vishniac medium, from temperatures of 4 to 25 °C, although growth was slow at the lowest temperature. Sexual and asexual reproduction also occurred within this temperature range. Mycelium diluted in seawater initiated zoospore release within 16 h and continued to release zoospores for over 200 h at temperatures from 4 to 20 °C. Zoospore encystment on several species of marine red, brown, and green algae was readily monitored following staining with lactophenol – cotton blue. Pythium marinum zoospore encystment occurred on rhodophyceaen species, including Porphyra (gametophytes), Gigartina exasperata (tetrasporophyte), Mastocarpus papillatus (gametophyte), Prionitis lanceolata (nonfertile), and Iridaea heterocarpa (gametophyte and tetrasporophyte), but not on Nereocystis leutkeana or Ulva lactuca. Over 50% of zoospores held in half-strength seawater at 4 and 20 °C encysted within 24 h, whereas those held at 12 °C reached 50% encystment only after 32 h. For 4-mm diameter discs of Porphyra nereocystis and Porphyra perforata (formerly Porphyra sanjuanensis) blades, there was only a transient relationship between cell damage and number of encysted zoospores. Zoospores did not attach to the conchocelis phase of two species of Porphyra. Sequential extraction of carbohydrates from the blades of Porphyra perforata implicated separate chemical signals for zoospore encystment and appressorium formation prior to the initiation of blade invasion. Addition of diverse monosaccharides and polysaccharides to zoospore suspensions suggested that these chemical signals are specific, with the attachment–encystment signal chemically related to polysaccharides consisting of sulfated or nonsulfated galactose and 3,6-anhydrogalactose found in commercial agars and carrageenans. There was no consistent relationship between zoospore encystment and the amount of 3,6-anhydrogalactose present in the blade phase of several species of red algae. Key words: Pythium, Porphyra, zoospore, encystment, sulfated galactans, 3,6-anhydrogalactose.