Lab 3: Chytridiomycota and Blastocladiomycota motility and morphology

Objective:

To observe sporangiophore and zoospores of Chytridiomycota and Blastocladiomycota.

Method:

Regular mounting method; microscopy.

Result:

1. Sporangiophore of Phytophthora infestans with cell wall staining dye.

Phytophthora is a genus of plant-damaging Oomycetes, whose member species are capable of causing enormous economic losses on crops worldwide, as well as environmental damage in natural ecosystems.

The specialized branches are sporangiophore. Sporangia are attached to sporangiophores. Sporangia are lemon-shaped cells in the picture.

 

2. Sporangia of Allomyces.

Sporangia are enclosed cells which produce zoospores.

3. Relased zoospores from sporangiophore of Allomyces.

Sporagia go through cytoplasmic cleavage to produce many swimming  zoospores. Zoospores are moving fast in a random direction. A zoospore cell is changing shape while it moves. Flagellum can be seen with a certain light reflection angle. Zoospores used flagellum to swim towards a host plant.