What is the difference between oomycetes and fungi

Remy, W. Taylor, H. Hass, and H. Four hundred-million-year-old vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae. Wainright, P. Hinkle, M.

Sogin, and S. Monophyletic origins of the Metazoa: an evolutionary link with fungi. Science This publication is in the public domain and not copyrightable.

It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. Log In Bookstore Join Renew. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Why are Phytophthora and other Oomycota not true Fungi? Page Content. Amy Y. Rossman and Mary E. Introduction Plant diseases result in billions of dollars in damage to agricultural crops each year. Characteristics of the Oomycota The Oomycota have long been considered fungi because they obtain their nutrients via absorption and many of them produce the filamentous threads known as mycelium characteristic of many fungi.

Fertilization of oospheres by nuclei from antheridia forming oospores. Oospores not produced; sexual reproduction results in zygospores, ascospores or basidiospores Nuclear state of vegetative mycelium Diploid Haploid or dikaryotic Cell wall composition Beta glucans, cellulose Chitin. Cellulose rarely present Type of flagella on zoospores, if produced Heterokont, of two types, one whiplash, directed posteriorly, the other fibrous, ciliated, directed anteriorly If flagellum produced, usually of only one type: posterior, whiplash Mitochondria With tubular cristae With flattened cristae Another distinction is the cell wall composition.

Figure 1 Figure 2 A fourth major difference between the Oomycota and the true Fungi is that the vegetative cells of the Oomycota generally consist of coenocytic hyphae hyphae without septa, i. Figure 3 True Fungi or Eumycota The true Fungi, or Eumycota, are now restricted to five major groups, each of which is regarded as a phylum in the Kingdom Fungi. The Remaining non-Fungi A few other groups of organisms previously regarded as fungi are now known to belong outside the true Fungi Figure 3.

Chitin present, No cellulose cell wall. Mitochondria cristae, tubular. Mitochondria cristate, plate like. Hydroxyprotine wall protein present. Hydroxyprotine wall protein absent. Lysine biosynthesis Like plants, use diamino pimelic acid pathway. Like animals, use aminoadipic acid pathway. Oomycetes vs True fungi. Somatic phases of oomycetes are diploid, whereas it is haploid in true fungi. Their hyphae can be septate or aseptate. A collection of hyphae is called a mycelium.

Fungi show heterotrophic nutrition pattern. They can also reproduce sexually via gametes and asexually via spores. Fungi have both beneficial and harmful effects. Fungi such as Penicillium are useful during antibiotics production.

Some fungi are edible mushrooms. Some fungi produce secondary metabolites such as vitamins, enzymes and hormones. Unicellular yeast is very important in many industries such as wine industry, bakery industry and the dairy industry, etc.

In contrast, some fungi are very harmful and pathogenic and cause diseases to both humans and plants. The key difference between oomycetes and true fungi is that oomycetes are lower fungi that do not contain chitin in their cell wall while true fungi have chitin in their cell wall. Another major difference between oomycetes and true fungi is that oomycetes bear a diploid somatic phase while true fungi have haploid somatic phase.

Moreover, oomycetes have tubular mitochondrial cristae while true fungi have plate-like mitochondrial cristae. Oomycetes are filamentous fungi-like eukaryotic organisms which are known as water moulds.

Their flagellum allow the zoospores to move rapidly through water. Salient Features of Oomycetes : Oomycetes contain 74 genera with species. The members of the class Oomycetes are characterized by the oogamous type of sexual reproduction and the presence of biflagellate zoospores which lack cell wall. The gametes are non-flagellate. Asked by: Evalyn Lejonagoitia asked in category: General Last Updated: 13th February, What is the difference between oomycetes and fungi?

What are true fungi? The kingdom Fungi includes several phyla, here called the "True Fungi". The Chytridiomycota usually have a very simple organization, often being one-celled, and are the only true fungi producing motile spores. The Zygomycota are varied but reproduce sexually by means of zygosporangia. What is the classification of fungi? Fungi are usually classified in four divisions: the Chytridiomycota chytrids , Zygomycota bread molds , Ascomycota yeasts and sac fungi , and the Basidiomycota club fungi.

Placement into a division is based on the way in which the fungus reproduces sexually. Where do Oomycetes live? Oomycetes are a diverse group of eukaryotic organisms. The or so species include both parasites and saprobes.