OCCURRENCE OF LABYRINTHULA ZOSTERAE IN ZOSTERA-MARINA FROM VENICE-LAGOON

The slime-mould Labryinthula zosterae Porter er Muehlstein, which has been regarded as the causative agent of wasting disease, has been isol ated from leaves of Zostera marina L. in Venice Lagoon. No Labyrinthul a could be isolated from Zostera noltii Hornem., but from Cymodocea no dosa (Ucria) Aschers. a distinctly different Labyrinthula sp. has been obtained. There are no indications that the occurrence of the Labyrin thula species plays a major part in the wax and wane of the seagrass b eds in the Venice Lagoon.