A NEW SPECIES OF PYTHIUM PRODUCING MULTIPLE OOSPORES ISOLATED FROM BENTGRASS IN NORTH-CAROLINA

Pythium plurisporium sp. nov. was isolated from diseased roots and cro wns of bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) from two golf courses in North C arolina. The species is distinguished from other Pythium spp., except P. multisporum, in the production of multiple oospores (1-6 per oogoni um) and by the occurrence of some oogonia (ca 20%) with a distinctive pedicel with two to four swollen elements originating at varying dista nces below the oogonia. The development of two or three oogonia from t he same branch of the oogonial hypha was infrequently observed (ca 2%) .