Chytridium polysiphoniae - a fungal pathogen on the Red alga Centroceras clavulatum (C. Agardh) Montagne, from Goa

Abstract

Centroceras clavulatum collected from rocky shores was found to harbour an epiphytic fungus identified as Chytridium polysiphoniae. Maximum infection of the host alga occurred during June-July 1984. Under laboratory conditions optimum infection occurred at 25 x 10 3 salinity and 30 degrees C temperature. The infection was restricted to one locality (Anjuna), although the host alga was found at other sites in Goa. Chytridium polysiphoniae could not infect killed host alga and it could not be cultured on artificial media, suggesting its obligate parasitic nature. The fungus and its occurrence on Centroceras clavulatum are reported for the fist time from India.