The flagella of zoospores of Phytophthora capsici Leonian as viewed with the phase contrast microscope

Abstract

Examinations of living zoospores of Phytophthora capsici with the phase contrast microscope reveal a small spherical body on many of the flagella. Before the zoospores emerge from the sporangia, they have two flagella already. Immediately after the zoospores emerge from sporangia, they move about rapidly and no small spherical bodies are visible on the flagella. One of the flagella swings severely foreward and the other slowly afterward. Later, as the zoospores begin to swim more slowly, a small spherical body appears on the middle part of the flagella. The flagella suddenly fold in two at the point of the spherical body and take an appearance of earpick shape. The flagella seem to wither completely or remain earpick-like. The zoospores stop their movement and the flagella, now being only spherical bodies or earpick-like structures, become detached and float away. Some different ways on transformations of flagella were observed in these examinations.