Physodermatacae is a family of
chytrid
Chytridiomycota are a division of zoosporic organisms in the kingdom Fungi, informally known as chytrids. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek ('), meaning "little pot", describing the structure containing unreleased zoöspores. Chytrid ...
fungi in the order
Physodermatales
Physodermatacae is a family of chytrid fungi in the order Physodermatales. Species in the family have a parasitic relationship with the host's physoderma. This family is distinctive in that it contains a thick wall around the sporangia to resi ...
. Species in the family have a parasitic relationship with the host's
physoderma
''Physoderma'' is a genus of chytrid fungi. Described by German botanist Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Wallroth in 1833, the genus contains some species that are parasitic on vascular plants, including '' P. alfalfae'' and '' P. maydis'', ca ...
. This family is distinctive in that it contains a thick wall around the sporangia to resist against unfavorable conditions. Sporangia releases from a host plant when rotting, dispersal is carried through the air. This family is not to be confused or related to basidiomycetes rusts and smut fungi. This parasite is distributed all across the world in aquatic, semi aquatic wetlands and in some ferns.
Physodermatacae breaks into two distinguished clades:
Physoderma
''Physoderma'' is a genus of chytrid fungi. Described by German botanist Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Wallroth in 1833, the genus contains some species that are parasitic on vascular plants, including '' P. alfalfae'' and '' P. maydis'', ca ...
and
Urophlyctis
''Physoderma'' is a genus of chytrid fungi. Described by German botanist Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Wallroth in 1833, the genus contains some species that are parasitic on vascular plants, including '' P. alfalfae'' and '' P. maydis'', cau ...
, which are grouped together because of the similar algal parasite called
Paraphysoderma.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q10631036
Blastocladiomycota
Fungus families