Thraustochytrid fungi associated with marine algae

Abstract

Many of the diatoms collected from Arabian Sea were found to harbour thraustochytrid fungi on them. The fungus was identified as Ulkenia visurgensis and it could be grown on pine pollen in seawater. The fungus never infected healthy growing cultures of these diatoms but grew only on senescent moribund cultures. Some of the macroalgae collected from Kavarathi atoll of Lakshadweep islands also harboured thraustochytrid fungi. Contrary to other reports these thraustochytrids were found on living healthy algae