Chytrid Fungi Online
An NSF PEET project website
  • Powell's Laboratory
    		•
  • Longcore's Laboratory
    		•
  • Longcore's Chytrid Bibliography
    		•
  • Chytrid Biogeography Dataset
    		•
  • Chytrid Systematics and PEET
    		•
  • Isolation Methods
    		•
  • Chytrid Cryopreservation Methods
    		•
  • Glossary
    		•
  • Photogallery
    		•
  • People
    		•
  • Links
    		•

    Here you will find information on members of the Phylum Chytridiomycota, including a description of genera, tips and techniques on how to isolate chytrids, current hypotheses of chytrid systematics (includes both taxonomy and phylogeny), links to other relevant websites, and a searchable reference database. The goal of this site is to provide an online resource for students, teachers, and researchers wanting to learn more about chytrids as well as an easily accessed interface for taxonomic information. Since the work on chytrid taxonomy and phylogeny is an on-going process, this site will be continually updated to reflect the changes brought about by new research.

    PHYLUM-CHYTRIDIOMYCOTA

    The Phylum Chytridiomycota (chytrids) includes two classes, Chytridiomycetes and Monoblepharidomycetes (2), each of which is monophyletic based on molecular analyses (3). Because of their genetic and morphological divergence, two groups of zoosporic fungi once included among chytrids are now classified as separate Phyla, Blastocladiomycota and Neocallimastigomycota (1,2).

    CLASS-CHYTRIDIOMYCETES

    The Chytridiomycetes are currently separated into five orders [Chytridiales (4), Rhizophydiales (5), Spizellomycetales (1), Rhizophlyctidales (6), and Lobulomycetales (7)]. Molecular phylogenetic analyses (3-7) have demonstrated that each of these orders is monophyletic, except for the current circumscription of the Chytridiales (3,4). Work is progressing on characterization of clades for groups formerly included in the Chytridiales. These groups, which do not cluster with recognized members of the Chytridiales, are listed here as provisional orders. James et al. 2006 (3) molecular analyses place two genera assigned to the Spizellomycetales outside of the core chytrid clade. The genus Rozella appears basal to the core chytrids and Olpidium brassicae radiates among zygomycetes. Thus, their classification is uncertain at this time (incertae sedis).

    ORDER-CHYTRIDIALES

    Check out our key to species of Chytriomyces

    (Provisional) ORDER-CLADOCHYTRIALES

    ORDER-RHIZOPHYDIALES

    Check out our summaries of Rhizophydium species.

    (Provisional) ORDER-POLYCHYTRIALES

    Check out our key to species of Karlingiomyces

    ORDER-SPIZELLOMYCETALES

    ORDER-RHIZOPHLYCTIDIALES

    ORDER-LOBULOMYCETALES

     

    CLASS-MONOBLEPHARIDOMYCETES

    See "Monoblepharidales in the Classroom" by Marilyn R.N. Mollicone

     

    REFERENCES

    (1) Barr, D. J. S. 1980. An outline for the reclassification of the Chytridiales, and for a new order, the Spizellomycetales. Canadian Journal of Botany 58, 2380–2394.

    (2) Hibbett, D.S., M. Binder, J. Bischoff, M. Blackwell, P. Cannon. O. Eriksson, S. Huhndorf, T. James, P. Kirk, R. Lucking, T. Lumbsch, F. Lutzoni, P. Matheny, D. McLaughlin, M. Powell, S. Redhead, C. Schoch, J. Spatafora, J. Stalpers, and R. Vilgalys. 2007. A higher level phylogenetic classification of the fungi. Mycological Research 111: 509-547.

    (3) James, T.Y., P.M. Letcher, J.E. Longcore, S.E. Mozley-Standridge, D. Porter, M.J. Powell, G.W. Griffith, and R. Vilgalys. 2006. A molecular phylogeny of the flagellated Fungi (Chytridiomycota) and description of a new phylum (Blastocladiomycota). Mycologia 98: 860-871.

    (4) Letcher, P. M., M. J. Powell, J. G. Chambers, J.E. Longcore, J. E., P.F. Churchill, and P. M. Harris. Ultrastructural and molecular analysis of the Chytridiaceae (Chytridiales). Canadian Journal of Botany 83, 1561-1573 (2005).

    (5) Letcher, P.M., M.J. Powell, P.E. Churchill, and J.G. Chambers. 2006. Ultrastructural and molecular phylogenetic delineation of a new order, the Rhizophydiales (Chytridiomycota). Mycological Research 110: 898-915.

    (6) Letcher, P.M., M. J. Powell, Donald J. S. Barr, Perry F. Churchill, William S. Wakefield, and Kathryn T. Picard. 2008. Rhizophlyctidales is a new order in Chytridiomycota. Mycological Research (in press).

    (7) Simmons, D.R., T.Y. James, A.F. Meyer, and J. E. Longcore. 2008. Lobulomycetales, a new order in the Chytridiomycota. Mycological Research (in press).

    FUNDING

    Funding for this site was provided by the National Science Foundation's PEET Program (Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy):

  • (DEB-9978094; 9/1/99 to 9/31/2005): "Monographic Research on the Zoosporic Fungi, Chytridiomycetes"
  • (DEB-052964; 9/1/05 to 8/31/2010: "Phylogenetic and Monographic Research on Spizellomycetalean Chytrids (Chytridiomycota)"

    		•

    Disclaimer:
    Research cited on this website was supported by the National Science Foundation's program on Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the institutions supporting the authors.

    If you have any problems, comments, or questions on the website, please contact the webmaster at: nsfpeet@bama.ua.edu