Secondary zoospores in the algal endoparasite Maullinia ectocarpii (Plasmodiophoromycota)

ABSTRACT

The present paper deals with the ultrastructure of zoospores produced by the plasmodiophorid Maullinia ectocarpii, living in the marine algal host Ectocarpus siliculosus. The zoospores described here are very similar to secondary zoospores of Polymyxa graminis and Phagomyxa sp. (the latter an algal endoparasite, also). Our results indicate that M. ectocarpii produces two types of plasmodia, and suggest that is a species with a complete life cycle, as it is known for all the Plasmodiophormycota that have been studied. Sporogenic and sporangial plasmodia produce, respectively, primary zoospores with parallel flagella within thick walled resting sporangia, and secondary zoospores with opposite flagella within thin walled sporangia.