Vol. 44 TORREYA July 1944 



Three New Saprophytic Ghytrids 

 Anne M. Hanson 



During a routine survey of fungi present in soil and water samples col- 

 lected at Sharon, Connecticut, three new chytridiaceous species were discov- 

 ered and isolated. The largest of these is eucarpic and polycentric, and resembles 

 species of Catenaria in several characters, but differs fundamentally by the 

 possession of operculate sporangia. Present studies indicate that it represents 

 a new genus of operculate polycentric chytrids for which the name Catenomyces 

 is hereby proposed. 



Catenomyces gen. nov. — Thallo semper fere polycentrico, raro mono- 

 centrico, intramatricali atque extramatricali: parte intramatricali ramosa vel 

 singula, septata ; septis rudimenta sporangiorum vel isthmorum sterilium disi- 

 ungentibus ; parte extramatricali ramosa, non septata atque sterili. Sporangiis 

 cum uno vel pluribus tubulis dimissionis, operculis sub obturamenta muci- 

 laginosa evolventibus, Zoosporis a posteriore uniflagellatis. Sporis perduranti- 

 bus incompertis aut dubiis. 



Catenomyces nov. gen. — Thallus usually polycentric, rarely monocentric, 

 intra-and extramatrical ; intramatrical portion branched or unbranched, septate ; 

 septa delimiting the rudiments of the sporangia or sterile isthmuses ; extra- 

 matrical portion branched, aseptate and sterile. Sporangia with one to several 

 exit tubes in which opercula develop beneath mucilaginous plugs. Zoospores 

 posteriorly uniflagellate. Resting spores unknown or doubtful. 



Catenomyces persicinus sp. nov.- — Protoplasmate hypharum extrama- 

 tricalium globulos aureos refractivos evolvente, protoplasmate hypharum extra- 

 matricalium hyalino manente. Zoospora:ngiis levibus, sporae plasmate maturitate 

 persicino colorato. forma variabilibus, uteriformibus, 21-71 x 25-82 /*, pyri- 

 formibus, 12-45 x 19-82 fi, ovatis, 17-63 x 28-97 fx, cylindricis, 6-15 x 19-75 (x, 

 sphaericis, 17-57 fx, ellipticis, 21-62 x 37-159 [x, orthogoniis, 43-55 x 59-83 /x, 

 triangulis, 35-59 x 44-65 /x, vel irregularibus, 26-67 x 35-193 fx, cum 1-9 

 canalibus exeuntibus, 3.7-16 x 7.5-112 fx, aliquando ramosis, uno solo de- 

 hiscente. Apicibus papillarum vel canalium exeuntium maturitate mollescenti- 

 bus, obturamento materiae mucilaginosae completis ; protoplasmate deorsum 

 recedente atque operculum sub obturamentum formante. Operculis maxime 

 tenuibus, forma patellae similibus, rotundis vel ovatis, 2.2-2.9 p, diametro. 

 Zoosporis sphaericis, 3.7-4.5 p, cum multis globulis aureis refractivis, flagello 

 circiter 30 ju, longitudine, singillatim emergentibus et cumulum ad tempus prope 

 orificium formantibus, interdum amoeboideis. Sporis perdurantibus dubiis. 



Catenomyces persicinus nov. sp. — Protoplasm of intramatrical hyphae 

 developing golden refractive globules, while the protoplasm of the extramatrical 

 hyphae remains hyaline. Zoosporangia smooth, with peach-colored spore plasm 

 at maturity, variable in shape, uteriform, 21-71 x 25-82 /x, pyriform, 12-45 x 19- 



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