Observations on the Genus Catenaria

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Abstract
C. allomycis, growing parasitically within the threads of Allomyces anomalus, was isolated from a single collection of soil in Texas. Growth expts. indicate that it is an obligate parasite on spp. of Allomyces and Blastocladiella simplex. Infection stages on A. anomalus, the development of the thallus, zoosporangia, resting bodies, and the fusion of motile gametes are described. This fungus possesses a thallus similar to C. anguillulae and resting bodies that germinate as in Blastocladiella cystogena. For purposes of comparison, C. anguillulae was isolated from Texas soil and grown in pure culture on a variety of agars for the first time. It grows best on beef liver agar with or without sucrose. Its complete life cycle is also described. Both fungus spp. studied are described as having life cycles paralleling spp: of Allomyces and Blastocladiella of the Blastocladiales. Zoospores have numerous fat bodies, a side body and a nuclear cap, collect in a ball at the sporangial tip upon discharging, swim as in the Blastocladiales, and germinate bipolar instead of monopolar. The resting body in structure and germination is typical of the Blastocladiales. The genus Catenaria is therefore transferred from the Chytridiales to the Blastocladiales and the subfamily Catenarioideae Sparrow is raised to family rank.