Hyphal interactions between a mycoparasite, Pythium nunn, and several soil fungi

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Abstract
The modes of hyphal interaction between a mycoparasite, Pythium nunn, and several soil fungi were studied by both phase-contrast and scanning-electron microscopy. In the zone of interaction, Pyth. nunn massively coiled around and subsequently lysed hyphae of Pyth. ultimum and Pyth. vexans. In contrast, Pyth. nunn penetrated and eventually parasitized hyphae of Rhizoctonia solani, Pyth. aphanidermatum, Phytophthora parasitica, and Phyto. cinnamomi by forming appressoriumlike structures. However, Pyth. nunn was not mycoparasitic against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum or Trichoderma koningnii and was destroyed by T. harzianum and T. viride. These observations demonstrated that Pyth. nunn was a necrotrophic mycoparasite, with a limited host range and differential modes of action among suscepts.