Theplasmodiophores[1] (also known asplasmophorids[2] orplasmodiophorids[3]) are a group ofobligateendoparasiticprotists belonging to the subphylumEndomyxa inCercozoa.[4] Taxonomically, they are united under a single familyPlasmodiophoridae, orderPlasmodiophorida, sister to thephagomyxids.[5]
The plasmodiophores have historically been regarded asFungi. The first description of plasmodiophores as a taxonomic group was in 1885 byZopf, who united two generaPlasmodiophora andTetramyxa in a common family “Plasmodiophoreæ”, inside the group “Monadineæ”, as part of the divisionMyxomycetes. The family was renamed “Plasmodiophoraceae” in 1888 byBerlese.[9] In 1892,Engler placed the family in its own class “Plasmodiophorales”, later renamed “Plasmodiophoromycetes” to fitnomenclature standards.[10]
In 1969Whittaker, in hisfive-kingdom system, elevated the group to a separate phylum “Plasmodiophoromycota”, acknowledging them asprotists instead of fungi.[1]
In 1993Cavalier-Smith included the plasmodiophores and their sister groupPhagomyxida in their current class,Phytomyxea, as part of apolyphyletic phylum called Opalozoa, which at the time contained a diverse assemblage of unrelated zooflagellates,opalines andproteomyxids.[11] Eventually this phylum was discarded, and the nameOpalozoa was modified to label a group inside the phylumBigyra containing theopalines,bicosoecids and related organisms.[12]
The number of genera varies between sources. There are three accepted genera in the group according to theWoRMS register:Plasmodiophora,Spongospora andTetramyxa.[15] Below is a complete list with genera that are not included in the register but appear in relevant sources:[3][16][17]
^abWhittaker RH (10 January 1969). "New concepts of kingdoms or organisms. Evolutionary relations are better represented by new classifications than by the traditional two kingdoms".Science.163 (3863):150–60.doi:10.1126/science.163.3863.150.PMID5762760.
^Irwin, Nicholas A.T.; Tikhonenkov, Denis V.; Hehenberger, Elisabeth; Mylnikov, Alexander P.; Burki, Fabien; Keeling, Patrick J. (2019-01-01). "Phylogenomics supports the monophyly of the Cercozoa".Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.130:416–423.doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2018.09.004.ISSN1055-7903.PMID30318266.S2CID52982396.
^Braselton JP (2001). "Plasmodiophoromycota". In McLaughlin DJ, McLaughlin EG, Lemke PA (eds.).The Mycota. Vol. VII: Systematics and Evolution Part A. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. pp. 81–91.doi:10.1007/978-3-662-10376-0_4.ISBN978-3-662-10376-0.
^Engler A (1903).Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien : eine Übersicht über das gesamte Pflanzensystem mit Berücksichtigung der Medicinal- und Nutzpflanzen nebst einer Übersicht über die Florenreiche und Florengebiete der Erde zum Gebrauch bei Vorlesungen und Studien über specielle und medicinisch-pharmaceutische Botanik (3rd ed.). Berlin: Borntraeger.doi:10.5962/bhl.title.22956.
^Cavalier-Smith T (1 March 2002). "The phagotrophic origin of eukaryotes and phylogenetic classification of Protozoa".International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.52 (2):297–354.doi:10.1099/00207713-52-2-297.PMID11931142.
^abDick, Michael W. (2001).Straminipilous Fungi: Systematics of the Peronosporomycetes Including Accounts of the Marine Straminipilous Protists, the Plasmodiophorids and Similar Organisms (1 ed.). Springer Dordrecht.doi:10.1007/978-94-015-9733-3.ISBN978-94-015-9733-3.S2CID28755980.
