Welcome to the Longcore Laboratory’s chytrid information site. The Phylum Chytridiomycota (chytrids) is an early diverging lineage in the fungal kingdom. With a few exceptions, chytrids form uniflagellated reproductive cells (zoospores). Until recently, all zoosporic eufungi were classified in the Chytridiomycota, however, advances in molecular phylogenetics supported the elevation of the Order Blastocladiales (e.g., Allomyces, Catenaria, Blastocladiella) to the Blastocladiomycota. The mammalian gut fungi, many of which produce multiflagellate zoospores, have also been classified in a separate phylum, the Neocallimastigomycota. Rozella species are basal to the Chytridiomycota and are classified in the Phylum Cryptomycota (Rozellida). In contrast, molecular evidence suggests that some zoospore-producing Olpidium species are allied with members of the Zoopagomycota.
The last inclusive monograph of the zoosporic fungi was published by F.K. Sparrow in 1960. At that time zoosporic eufungi were classified in the Chytridiales, Monoblepharidales and Blastocladiales; now fungi that were considered in 1960 to be in the Chytridiales are classified in 13 orders. To facilitate searches for taxonomic changes, the bibliography included here contains information on new taxa and taxonomic changes for the zoosporic eufungi published since 1960.
Cultures of zoosporic fungi are available for teaching and research from CZEUM (Collection of Zoosporic Eufungi at the University of Michigan; https://czeum.herb.lsa.umich.edu/).