Allomyces

Allomyces is a genus of fungi in the family Blastocladiaceae. It was circumscribed by British mycologist Edwin John Butler in 1911. Species in the genus have a polycentric thallus and reproduce sexually or asexually by zoospores that have a whiplash-like flagella. They are mostly isolated from soils in tropical countries, commonly in ponds, rice fields, and slow-moving rivers.

==Morphology== Allomyces thalli consist of a cylindrical trunk-like basal cell that gives rise to well-developed, highly branched rhizoids that anchor the thallus to the substrate. The trunk-like basal cell also gives rise to numerous dichotomously branched side branches that terminate as either resistant sporangia, zoosporangia, or gametangia depending on the life cycle stage. Septa are sometimes present especially at the base of reproductive organs. thumb|Germling of Allomyces strain WJD103 on nutrient agar. Note the trunk-like basal cell separated from the dichotomously branched branches that will give rise to the reproductive organs. thumb|Zoomed out view of a mature thallus of Allomyces strain WJD103. Note the orange-brown zoosporangia and resting sporangia at the terminals of the branches.