Miracula blauvikensis: a new species of Miracula from Iceland, and report of a co-cultivation system for studying oomycete-diatom interactions

• Published in: Fungal Systematics and Evolution
• Main Authors: Buaya, A., Thines, M.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Fungal Systematics and Evolution 2022
• Subjects: Articles; Iceland
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9875693/; https://doi.org/10.3114/fuse.2022.10.07

The genus Miracula represents an early-diverging lineage of diatom-parasitic Oomycota, straminipilous eukaryotes that have evolved fungal features independent from the opisthokont Fungi. Recent studies have revealed that diatom parasitoids are much more species-rich than previously thought and may play an important role in limnic and marine ecosystems. Of the different diatom-parasitic lineages, the genus Miracula is one of the most abundant in marine ecosystems. Here a species of Miracula parasitising Fragilaria capucina s.l. from Iceland is described as Miracula blauvikensis. In addition, its phylogenetic position is clarified and its life-cycle documented. The species has been brought into co-cultivation with its host, and due to the ease of cultivation and the convenient microscopy of the diatom threads, this co-culture might be a useful tool to study oomycete-diatom interactions in the future. Citation: Buaya A, Thines M (2022). Miracula blauvikensis: a new species of Miracula from Iceland, and report of a co-cultivation system for studying oomycete-diatom interactions. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 10: 169–175. doi:10.3114/fuse.2022.10.07