ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE HYPHAE AND HAUSTORIA OF PHYTOPHTHORA INFESTANS AND HYPHAE OF P. PARASITICA

Abstract

The ultrastructure of the mycelium of both Phytophthora infestans and P. parasitica is consistent with that reported for other Oomycetes. A distinct plasmalemma, porate nuclei, tubular endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria with tubular cristae, Golgi dictyosomes, and lipid bodies are present within the protoplast. The haustoria produced by P. infestans in the leaves of susceptible potato varieties consist of an expanded haustorial head surrounded by a fungus wall which is continuous with the wall of the intercellular mycelium. The haustorium lacks the long narrow stalk or neck often associated with this organ, and there is considerable cytoplasmic continuity between the haustorium and the intercellular mycelium. All P. infestans haustoria observed were anucleate and generally contained only a few mitochondria and sparse endoplasmic reticulum. The haustorium is enclosed in an encapsulation surrounded by a membrane which is continuous with the host plasmalemma. There is no evidence, around any portion of the haustorium, of a sheath originating from the cell wall of the host. A survey of the current literature on the ultrastructure of the Eumycotinia shows that the parasitic fungi exhibit no unique cytoplasmic features when compared with non-parasitic fungi, and the ultrastructure of the haustoria-producing facultative saprophyte is similar to that of the obligate parasites.