A class of the * Mastigomycotina containing fungi that typically produce zoospores with an anterior dimmer flagellum and a posterior whiplash flagellum. It contains about 580 species in some 70 genera. The mycelium is coenocytic and, unlike other fungi, has no chitin in its walls. Sexual reproduction involves the formation and fusion of oogonia and antheridia. The oospheres within the oogonia form thick-walled oospores after fertilization. The Oomycetes contains the four orders Lagenidiales, * Saprolegniales , Leptomitales, and * Peronosporales. |
