BIOL 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 71: Rhizopus, Opisthokont, Chytridiomycota
27 Jun 2016
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Document Summary
Until recently, the chytrids were considered to be fungus- like protists, like the water molds of the protists. Although they are filamentous and have chitin cell walls like most fungi, they have flagellated stages in their life cycle like protists. Now, thanks to similarities in dna sequences, we think that they are more related to the fungi, and may represent a link with the opisthokont flagellated ancestor of all fungi. The 1,000 species of chytrids are mostly freshwater microbes that cause decay of organic matter. They sometimes parasitize freshwater algae and may have a role in ending algal blooms. Recent evidence also suggests that chytrids may be responsible for a disease that has produced marked population declines of frogs since the 1970s. In these 1,100 species of fungi, such as the bread mold rhizopus, the hyphae grow extensively, and produce many asexual sporangia that give the fungus its black, speckled appearance. If the environment becomes unfavorable, the fungus reproduces sexually.
