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Aquastella gen. nov.: A new genus of saprolegniaceous oomycete rotifer parasites related to Aphanomyces, with unique sporangial outgrowths

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Sally Glockling, Dr Gordon Beakes

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Abstract

The oomycete genus Aquastella is described to accommodate two new species of parasites of rotifers observed in Brooktrout Lake, New York State, USA. Three rotifer species - Keratella taurocephala, Polyarthra vulgaris, and Ploesoma truncatum - were infected, and this is the first report of oomycete infection in these species. Aquastella attenuata was specific to K. taurocephala and Aquastella acicularis was specific to P. vulgaris and P. truncatum. The occurrence of infections correlated with peak host population densities and rotifers were infected in the upper layers of the water column. Sequencing of 18S rRNA and phylogenetic analysis of both species placed them within the order Saprolegniales, in a clade closely related to Aphanomyces. The Aquastella species were morphologically distinct from other rotifer parasites as the developing sporangia penetrated out through the host body following its death to produce unique tapered outgrowths. Aquastella attenuata produced long, narrow, tapering, finger-like outgrowths, whilst A. acicularis produced shorter, spike-like outgrowths. We hypothesize that the outgrowths serve to deter predation and slow descent in the water column. Spore cleavage was intrasporangial with spore release through exit tubes. Aquastella attenuata produced primary zoospores, whereas A. acicularis released spherical primary aplanospores, more typical of other genera in the Aphanomyces clade. (C) 2014 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Molloy DP, Glockling SL, Siegfried CA, Beakes GW, James TY, Mastitsky SE, Wurdak E, Giamberini L, Gaylo MJ, Nemeth MJ

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Fungal Biology

Year: 2014

Volume: 118

Issue: 7

Pages: 544-558

Print publication date: 01/07/2014

Online publication date: 12/02/2014

Acceptance date: 17/01/2014

ISSN (print): 1878-6146

ISSN (electronic): 1878-6162

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2014.01.007

DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2014.01.007

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