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Oomycetes

Oomycetes

1 9.9
Organisms like fungi that make special spores and often cause plant diseases
  • noun
  • /ˌoʊəˈmaɪsiːtiz/
  • Specialized
: Oomicetos
  • Many plant pathogens belong to the Oomycetes, causing diseases such as late blight in potatoes.

Examples

  • The Oomycetes differ from true fungi by having cell walls made of cellulose rather than chitin.

  • The Oomycetes are often found in aquatic environments.

  • Researchers studied how the Oomycetes infect aquatic plants in freshwater ecosystems.

  • Many Oomycetes can cause diseases in plants.

  • Many plant pathogens belong to the Oomycetes, causing diseases such as late blight in potatoes.

  • Researchers studied how the Oomycetes infect aquatic plants in freshwater ecosystems.

  • The Oomycetes differ from true fungi by having cell walls made of cellulose rather than chitin.

Surface Forms

Oomycetes singular
Oomycetes plural

Morphology

Oomycetes = oomycete (transparent) = oomycete + s

This form is a straightforward plural (-s) of the singular 'oomycete'; the plural relation is regular and obvious.

Etymology

Oomycetes comes from Greek parts oo- meaning 'egg' and -mycetes meaning 'fungus'. The name points to how these fungus-like organisms make 'egg'-like spores, so thinking of them as 'egg fungi' helps you remember what they are.