Why oomycetes are called water molds?

Why oomycetes are called water molds?

Oomycetes (a term used to refer to organisms in the phylum Oomycota) are a group of fungus-like organisms that rely on water for completion of their life cycle, hence the common name “water molds”.

What is the scientific name for water mold?

Oomycetes
Oomycete/Scientific names

One oomycete, the mycoparasite Pythium oligandrum, is used for biocontrol, attacking plant pathogenic fungi. The oomycetes are also often referred to as water molds (or water moulds), although the water-preferring nature which led to that name is not true of most species, which are terrestrial pathogens.

Can water molds be parasitic?

Water molds belong to the group known as oomycetes. The water molds resemble other fungi because they have branched filaments and form spores. Certain water molds are parasites of fish. Others cause disease in plants such as tobacco, grapes, and potatoes.

Where are Stramenopiles found?

aquatic environments
Stramenopiles are abundant in aquatic environments, but some species are terrestrial (e.g. on soil, parasite to land plants). The flagellate cells possess two (anterior and posterior) flagella. The anterior flagellum is accompanied with tubular mastigonemes (origin of the name “strameno-pile”).

What is the difference between oomycetes and fungi?

The key difference between oomycetes and true fungi is that oomycetes have cellulose, beta-glucans, and hydroxyproline in their cell wall while true fungi have chitin in their cell walls. Oomycetes and true fungi are two groups of eukaryotic organisms that show filamentous growth. They also feed on decaying matter.

What diseases are caused by Oomycota?

The oomycetes, also known as “water molds”, are a group of several hundred organisms that include some of the most devastating plant pathogens. The diseases they cause include seedling blights, damping-off, root rots, foliar blights and downy mildews.

What is a phylum Oomycota?

Heterokont
Oomycete/Phylum

Are water molds protists?

Oomycota or oomycetes, which are also known as water molds, are a group of filamentous protists that physically resemble fungi. Instead, water molds are related to organisms such as brown algae and diatoms, making them heterokonts (Phylum Heterokontophyta).

Can water mold make you sick?

In some cases, mold in your home can make you sick, especially if you have allergies or asthma. Whether or not you’re allergic to molds, mold exposure can irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs. Here’s what you can do to combat mold problems, and take care of yourself and your home.

What do stramenopiles do?

The brown algae (or kelp) are major autotrophs of the intertidal and subtidal marine habitats. Some of the bacterivorous stramenopiles, such as Cafeteria are common and widespread consumers of bacteria, and thus play a major role in recycling carbon and nutrients within microbial food webs.

Are green algae stramenopiles?

Stramenopiles include a particularly wide variety of algae with chlorophyll c-containing complex plastids (see above), which are often now known as ochrophytes.

Why is Oomycota called Oomycota?

“Oomycota” means “egg fungi”, referring to the oversize oogonia which house the female gametes (eggs). Despite the name and their superficial appearance, oomycetes are not fungi. While some members of Oomycota are relatively harmless, some species are parasitic and negatively affect aquatic plants or organisms.

What kind of environment does Stramenopila live in?

General Characteristics. _. Stramenopila is a group that includes brown algae, kelps, diatoms, and water molds. Generally live in marine environments. Even the giant brown algae lack the complex vascular systems of land plants. Water molds (oomycetes) can be parasitic.

What are the members of the kingdom Stramenopila?

They have members that are mostly photosynthetic; additionally, many members have a profound influence on humans. We will begin with a discussion of Kingdom Stramenopila, which includes the diatoms, water molds, and brown algae.

What does the name Stramenopila mean in Latin?

Although this group is diverse, they all share a common ancestral trait. Namely, the presence of hair-like projections on their flagella (Fig. 3); “stramen” means flagellum in Latin, and “pilos” means hair; hence, stramenopilans.

What kind of organisms live in water molds?

Stramenopila is a group that includes brown algae, kelps, diatoms, and water molds. Generally live in marine environments. Even the giant brown algae lack the complex vascular systems of land plants. Water molds (oomycetes) can be parasitic.