Scientific name: Phytophthora InfestansLife Cycle: The life cycle of phytophthora usually begins with the sporangia which is carried by the wind. The sporangia then lands on plant tissue where it releases the zoospores. The zoospores can only be released when the conditions are wet and cool, Ireland being a perfect place at the time for the Phytophthora to attack. The spores that were released have flagellum, which help them move around until they find themselves in the host. The sporangium will penetrate the host tissue which causes the protist to gain nutrients from the host plant. The antheridium and oogonium are able to sexually reproduce and create a diploid oospore which will eventually turn into a sporangium and start the cycle over again.
Methods of Obtaining Energy: When the sporangium is on the host tissue it is able to take over the tissue cells. The sporangium penetrates the tissue and then causes the protist to gain nutrients from the host. The nutrients help the Phytophthora stay alive and reproduce rapidly in order to take over the plant and release more spores.
Location: Typically Phytophthora is found in the soil where it can then be spread through rain or wind. Rain can wash spores into soil where they can infect tubers. Wind also carries spores for miles where the spores can infect the host tissues of Potatoes or Tomatoes.
Potential Hosts: Phytophthora is a protist that has always been changing and morphing since it was introduced to potato crops. Many species of Phytophthora exist and some are starting to break down and target plants of much larger sizes. Pittosporum Undulatum is a potential Australian host of Phytophthora. Pittosporum causes sudden death to oak trees (California). These two protists were said to be related because spores were carried through air or by rain in order to attack host tissues and potato plants in the same way.
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ClassificationDomain:
Eukaryota Kingdom: Protista Phylum: Heterokontophyta Class: Oomycetes Order: Peronosporales Family: Peronosporaceae Genus: Phytophthora Species: Phytophthora infestans |