Three peronosporaceae species of the genus Phytopythium menace Nuphar lutea (Sibth and Sm.) colonies occurring in South-mediterranean freshwater wetlands (a rare species in Algeria and Africa)
Abstract
L. Kachour*, H. Alayat and D. Gacemi-Kirane
Oubeira Lake, Northeastern Algeria, is about to undergo critical changes which threaten local aquaplants populations, at the image of Nuphar lutea. Hereby, we took the initiative to identify aquatic microorganisms associated to Nuphar lutea rhizosphere, in order to identify the causes of root-rot disease, observed when sampling plant materials during the early blooming season of the current year. In silico cultures isolation, microscopic characterization and Molecular phylogeny based on rDNA ITS and cox2 sequences of rhizospheric Oomycetes, have been highly significant to distinguish three species from the genus Phytopythium, suspected to be aggressive phytopathogens against Nuphar lutea population in the Oubeira. This waterborne Protist is morphologically Fungi-like, rather Algae-like in its genotype apect, sharing with the sister genus Phytophthora, the role of decomposing biomachines on submerged organic materials within stagnant freshwater ecosystems. Empirical results suspect this aquatic microorganism to develop a pathogenic devastating behavior against the studied helophytes’ fine roots and become so on, the main causal agent of yellow lily extinction from the South Mediterranean area. We remind that Nuphar lutea is an excellent bio-geo-indicator, only recorded in Oubeira, as a rare species in Africa.