THE ALOE-FUNGI (PHYCOMYCETES) 223 



215. Other phycomycetes. Of the forms that have here been * 

 discussed, Rhizopus, Saprolegnia, and Plasmopara, each 

 represents an important subdivision of the phycomycete class 

 of fungi. There are many molds closely related to Rhizopus, 

 and some of them usually appear wherever there is decaying 

 organic matter. Several kinds of water molds are known, 

 and other parasitic forms which resemble Saprolegnia are the 

 cranberry-gall fungus (Synchytrium Vaccini), which attacks 

 the stem, leaves, flowers, and fruit of the cranberry plant; 

 the "damping-off " fungus (Pythium DeBaryanum), which, in 

 plant-house seed beds and sometimes in open fields, kills seed- 

 ling plants by attacking their cells at or near the soil, thus 

 causing them to wilt ; the brown rot of the lemon and other 

 citrous fruits {Pythiacystis citrophthora), which is especially 

 injurious in California and is often a forerunner of the blue 

 mold (Penicillium). Important plant parasites which in struc- 

 ture and habit resemble the grape mildew and potato blight 

 are the white or downy mildew ( Cystopus candidus, sometimes 

 called Albugo Candida) of plants of the mustard family {Cru- 

 ciferce), as shepherd's-purse, the common radish, horse-radish, 

 cress, mustard, and turnip ; also another white mildew (Pero- 

 nospora parasitical) which infests many members of the mus- 

 tard family, including most of those mentioned for Cystopus, 

 as well as others ; downy mildew (^Plasmopara cubensis) of the 

 cucumber, pumpkin, and watermelon ; onion mildew (Peronos- 

 pora Schleideni) ; downy mildew of lettuce (JBremia Lactucce) ' 

 and downy mildew of lima beans (Phytophthora Phaseoli). 



216. Summary of phycomycetes. In structure and methods 

 of reproduction this group resembles some of the green algse. 

 The frequently occurring coenocytic body suggests VaucTieria 

 and its relatives among the green algse. In reproduction 

 zobspores, zygospores, and ob'spores are formed, and the spe- 

 cialized sex organs, ob'gonium and antheridium, are present. - 

 In some of the phycomycetes specialized asexual structures, 

 the conidia, are formed, and these germinate, usually producing 

 one or more zoospores. Evidently these conidia are sporangia 



