Phytophthora infestans: Difference between revisions
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==Description and Significance== | ==Description and Significance== | ||
Phytophtora infestans is an oomycete protist. P. infestans was originally thought to be a fungal species due to its filamentous structure and metabolic strategies, but recent biochemical and phylogenetic analyses has revealed that P. infestans is only remotely related to fungi and is more closely related to heterokont algae (Kumar and Rzhetsky 1996, Van de Peer and De Watcher 1997). P. infestans growth structure is fungal-like, with the mycelium usually coenocytic and consisting of hyphae 5 to 8 µm in diameter (Erwin and Ribeiro 1996). P. insfestans cell walls are primarily composed of cellulose and β-glucans and lack chitin (Bartnicki-Garcia 1968). P. infestans is the causal agent of late blight in potatoes, lead to the Great Irish Famine in the mid nineteenth century, and causes approximately US $3 billion dollars worth damage annually world-wide (Duncan 1999). P. infestans is distributed worldwide, including major potato growing regions in Europe, North America, and South America (Goodwin et al. 1994). | |||
==Genome Structure== | ==Genome Structure== | ||
Revision as of 17:59, 24 April 2011
Classification
Domain: Eukaryota; Phylum: Heterokontophyta; Class: Oomycota; Order: Peronosporales; Family: Pythiaceae; Genus: Phytopthora
Species
Phytophthora infestans
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NCBI: [1] |
Description and Significance
Phytophtora infestans is an oomycete protist. P. infestans was originally thought to be a fungal species due to its filamentous structure and metabolic strategies, but recent biochemical and phylogenetic analyses has revealed that P. infestans is only remotely related to fungi and is more closely related to heterokont algae (Kumar and Rzhetsky 1996, Van de Peer and De Watcher 1997). P. infestans growth structure is fungal-like, with the mycelium usually coenocytic and consisting of hyphae 5 to 8 µm in diameter (Erwin and Ribeiro 1996). P. insfestans cell walls are primarily composed of cellulose and β-glucans and lack chitin (Bartnicki-Garcia 1968). P. infestans is the causal agent of late blight in potatoes, lead to the Great Irish Famine in the mid nineteenth century, and causes approximately US $3 billion dollars worth damage annually world-wide (Duncan 1999). P. infestans is distributed worldwide, including major potato growing regions in Europe, North America, and South America (Goodwin et al. 1994).
Genome Structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Ecology and Pathogenesis
Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
References
Author
Page authored by Jayme Olsen and Pete Nelson, students of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.
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