CATENOPHLYCTIS,A NEW GENUS OF THE CATENARIACEAE

Catenophlyctis gen. nov. is established in the family Catenariaceae to include the fungus previously known as Phlyctorhiza variabilis Karling. This ubiquitous saprophyte was formerly included in the genus Phlyctorhiza Hanson of the Chytridiales on the grounds that its eucarpic thallus is predominantly monocentric and because it develops usually from an enlargement of the germ tube. Additional studies on this species in India have confirmed the previous observations that the thallus of some strains frequently becomes extensively polycentric and Catenaria-like. Also, its zoospores have been found to be similar in structure to those of species of the Catenariaceae. Accordingly, this species cannot be retained in Phlyctorhiza as Hanson defined the genus, and it is transferred from the Chytridiales to a new genus of the family Catenariaceae in the order Blastocladiales.