Flagellar Studies on Zoospores of Some Members of the Mycetozoa, Plasmodiophorales, And Chytridiales

Since the discovery by Vilk (19, 20) that there is more than one type of flagellar structure, mycologists have been increasingly interested in the possibility that the type, position, number, etc., of the flagella might provide a valuable aid in classification and determination of phylogenetic relationships (3, 22). This idea is supported by the fact that there has been found to be a definite correlation between these flagellar characteristics and certain physiological and structural characteristics. This is true for both the fungi and the algae. It was with the hope of providing some information that could be used as an aid in determining the position and phylogeny of certain organisms of more or less uncertain relationships that these studies were undertaken. Vlk's work disclosed that there are three different types of flagella. These are the ordinary, blunt-ended type of flagellum, the whiplash flagellum and the ciliated or tinsel type of flagellum. To these may be added a possible fourth type of flagellum, the knobbed flagellum. The occurrence and significance of the, knobbed flagellum will be discussed in detail farther on in this