| Oomycetes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | Oomycetes |
TheOomycota are aclass in a hugephylum ofeukaryoticmicroorganisms called theheterokonts.Oomycetes are a distinctphylogenetic line offungus-likemicroorganisms.
They are not actually fungi, though some have filaments as fungi do. Like fungi, they aresaprophytic andpathogenic. also like fungi, oomycetes rarely have septa,[1] and if they do, they are scarce.[2]
They are microscopic organisms that reproduce both sexually and asexually. Oomycetes are some of the most prolificpathogens ofplants, causing devastating diseases such aspotato blight and sudden oak death.
They are often referred to aswater moulds (ormoulds), although the water-loving nature which led to that name is not true of most species, which are terrestrial pathogens.
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Most oomycetes produce two types of spores. The main dispersing spores are asexual, self-mobilespores calledzoospores. These dochemotaxis toward a food source in surface water. A few oomycetes produce asexual spores that are distributed by wind. Oomycetes also produce sexual spores, called "oospores". These aretranslucent, double-walled, spherical structures which can survive harsh conditions.
