Pythium oligandrum

Taxobox
color = khaki
name = "Pythium oligandrum"
domain = Eukaryota
unranked_phylum = Chromista
phylum = Heterokontophyta
classis = Oomycetes
ordo = Pythiales
familia = Pythiaceae
genus = "Pythium"
species = "P. oligandrum"
binomial = "Pythium oligandrum"
binomial_authority = Dreschler

"Pythium oligandrum" is an Oomycete. It is a parasite of many fungi and other oomycetes including "Botrytis", "Fusarium" and "Phytophthora". It has been licensed as a biocontrol agent in the form of an oospore soil treatment, which reduces pathogen load and concomitant plant disease. "P. oligandrum" can grow within the roots of certain plants, including tomato and sugar beet. Production of auxin-like substances stimulate plant growth. Defense responses can be induced in the plant, which primes the plant from further infection by pathogenic fungi, oomycetes or bacteria.

References

* "Brozova, J". Exploitation of the mycoparasitic fungus "Pythium oligandrum" in plant protection. "Plant Protection Science". "38":29-35 (2002)
* "Picard,K., Tirilly,Y. and Benhamou,N". (2000) Cytological effects of cellulases in the parasitism of "Phytophthora parasitica" by "Pythium oligandrum". Appl.Environ.Microbiol., "66", 4305-4314.
* "Le Floch,G., Rey,P., Benizri,E., Benhamou,N. and Tirilly,Y." (2003) Impact of auxin-compounds produced by the antagonistic fungus "Pythium oligandrum" or the minor pathogen "Pythium" group F on plant growth. Plant Soil, "257", 459-470.