A POSSIBLE ENDOPARASITIC CHYTRIDIOMYCETE FUNGUS FROM THE PERMIAN OF ANTARCTICA

• Main Authors: Palaeontologia Electronica, J. L. García Massini
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.594.688; http://palaeo-electronica.org/2007_3/121/121.pdf

Several stages of the life cycle of an endoparasitic fungus of the Chytridiomycota, here assigned to the extant genus Synchtrium, are described as the new species per-micus from silicified plant remains from the Late Permian (~250 Ma) of Antarctica. The thallus of Synchtrium permicus is holocarpic and monocentric and consists of thick-walled resting sporangia, thin-walled sporangia, and zoospores in different stages of development. A life cycle is hypothesized from the range of developmental stages. The life cycle begins when zoospores encyst on the host cell surface, subsequently giving rise to thin-walled sporangia with motile spores. Some zoospores (haploid) function as isogamous gametes that may fuse to produce resting sporangia (diploid). Roots, leaves, and stems of plants are among the tissues infected. Host response to infection includes hypertrophy. Morphological and developmental patterns suggest similarities with the Synchytriaceae (Chytridiales), particularly with Synchytrium. Previous records of chytridiomycetes are known from the Devonian Rhynie Chert and from the Carbonif-erous and the Eocene of the northern hemisphere; this report is the first on chytridio-mycetes from the Permian. KEY WORDS: Endoparasitic fungi, fossil fungi, chytridiomycetes, Synchytrium