What is Chytridiomycota
The word Chytridiomycota comes from the Greek chytridion which means "little pot". The origin of this name describes the structure of fungi that do not yet contain spores . Chytridiomycota or often called Khitrid is the most primitive fungus and is a transitional organism or link between fungi (Fungi) and Protists . Most of the Chytridiomycota live in water (aquatic organisms). Some of them are saprobes, others live as parasites on protists, aquatic plants and invertebrates.
Systematists classify Chytridiomycota into Kingdom Fungi because it has the main characteristics similar to fungi, namely the way of obtaining food by absorption (absorbtive), cell walls are made of chitin, and have several enzymes that are owned by fungi. In addition, molecular systematicians have also compared the protein sequence and nucleic acid sequence of Chytridiomycota with fungi and have found evidence that Chytridiomycota belongs to the fungus group.
Chytridiomycota form single flagellated spores called zoospores. Flagella is one of the characteristics of the protist kingdom, Chytridiomycota is the only member of the Fungi kingdom that has flagella (whip feathers) as in the phylum Flagellata in the protist kingdom, namely the phylum Protozoa (animal-like protists).
Characteristics of Chytridiomycota
In general, the characteristics or characteristics of organisms belonging to the division Chytridiomycota are as follows.
- Most unicellular, but some types of multicellular.
- The cell wall composed of chitin compounds ( chitin ).
- Have hyphae senositik (multinucleated).
- Most are saprofit, but there are parasites on plants and animals.
- Chytridiomycota do breeding asexually by forming a core zoospores and flagella that appear on the back end.
- Reproduction sexually with planogamet melting, smelting gametangium, and unity between the hyphae-hyphae or corresponding cells.
- Most of the aquatic organisms (aquatic).
- It is the most primitive fungi, organisms transition from protists to fungi, as well as the only member kingdom Fungi that have flagella.
Chytridiomycota's Body Structure
There are several fungi in this division which are pathogenic fungi. One example is Phytopthora infestans which is a parasite on potato plants. The fungal haustoria attack the mesophyll cells and suck food from these cells. Mycelium forms sporangiospores with sporangium, out of the stomata.
Examples and Roles of Chytridiomycota
Chytridiomycota includes about 1,000 species that are often included in the kingdom Protista because they produce flagellated zoospores. This is in accordance with its main habitat in waters and humid places. However, Chytridiomycota have structures and ways of obtaining food that resemble fungi, so that biologists consider Chytridiomycota as a link between Protists and Fungi. As for some examples of Chytridiomycota species and their role in life are as follows.
- Synchytrium endobioticum , a tuber potato pathogen that causes root-nodule berbintil.
- Hyzopydium couchii , are parasitic on algae Spirogyra.
- Olpidium viciae , are parasites on plants Vicia unijuga (nuts countryman kara).
- Physoderma zeamaydis , causing stains blonde on corn.
- Phytopthora infestans , is a parasite on potato.
- Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis , causes chytidiomycosis on amphibious so as to reduce the number of populations and even extinction.
