1. Water Molds Phylum: Oomycota Micah Vinovskis and Jess Zelenak

2. Body  Has a body called a mycelium Mycelium- body that grows over organic material, digests it, and then absorbs the predigested nutrients Mycelium- body that grows over organic material, digests it, and then absorbs the predigested nutrients Hyphae- threadlike structures that make up the mycelium and are coenocytic Hyphae- threadlike structures that make up the mycelium and are coenocytic Coenocytic- does not have a cell wall and the body is one giant multinucleate cell Coenocytic- does not have a cell wall and the body is one giant multinucleate cell  Cell walls are made up of: cellulose (like plants), chitin (like fungi), or both

3. Reproduction  Reproduce asexually when conditions are favorable Hyphal tip swells and a cross wall is formed which separates the hyphal tip from the rest of the mycelium Hyphal tip swells and a cross wall is formed which separates the hyphal tip from the rest of the mycelium Within the zoosporangium tiny biflagellate zoospores form that can develop into a new mycelium Within the zoosporangium tiny biflagellate zoospores form that can develop into a new mycelium

4. Reproduction continued…  Reproduce sexually when conditions are unfavorable. Fusion of male and female nuclei occurs Fusion of male and female nuclei occurs Oospore- thick walled spore develops from the zygote Oospore- thick walled spore develops from the zygote Usually overwinter as oospores Usually overwinter as oospores

5. Irish Potato Famine  During the 19 th century, Ireland potatoes were hit with Phytophthora infestans which caused late blight of potatoes  Several rainy, cool summers in Ireland caused the water molds to multiply and attack the potato tubers