Watermold Study to Benefit Developing Countries, Agriculture, Aquaculture

Newswise — Every year, several species of watermold cause major economic losses around the world, particularly in sugar beets and peas as well as freshwater fish and crayfish farms. Watermolds also plague home aquaria and West Coast salmon farmers. Developing countries can suffer major economic losses because of these organisms. To help control this problem, scientists now have a new tool to identify watermold species through a recently revised book, Biology and Systematics of the Saprolegniaceae, accepted for publication by the Mycological Society of America as part of its Mycologia Memoirs series. The work is expected to be available for purchase by Jan.1, 2006 The book is based on the life's work of UNC Wilmington Biology professor David Padgett, and his co-authors, retired professors T. W. Johnson Jr. of Duke University and R. L. Seymour of Ohio State University. The monographic treatment of the protistan family Saprolegniaceae has taken 32 years to compile and is 1,283 pages long with 50 chapters. It summarizes all published scientific literature on this group dating back to 1760 and references 3,240 scientific papers and books written in seven languages. The last 20 chapters contain illustrated descriptions of all 122 recognized watermold species and taxonomic keys that can be used to identify unknown species. "These organisms are very important both ecologically and as plant and animal pathogens, but nobody knew how to study them because they didn't know how to identify them. Our book solves that problem," said Padgett. "This book is the definitive work to help scientists identify the organisms they are studying. This identification process is the basis for all meaningful studies of the life processes of all organisms." The authors will donate all proceeds from the sale of this book to the endowment of the Mycological Society of America. The printed version book measures a foot thick and costs $500, out of reach for developing countries which have the greatest need for the information. So the authors specified that the book be published on CDs with hot links to contents available on the Internet and sold for no more than $20 each. "We are excited because this will make this definitive work available to people all over the world," said Padgett. Since the 1960s as an undergraduate at Duke University, Padgett has studied watermold (Saprolegniaceae), once considered to be fungi but now considered part of the Protista Kingdom of living organisms. Today he is the world's only practicing specialist in watermold taxonomy. "People have been scared away from studying watermold because the organisms are so hard to identify," said Padgett. "Yet, these organisms are present all over the world and cause huge economic losses. They also do a lot of good things, but until we can know their names, we can't study and learn what they do, so it is important that this specialty not be allowed to disappear." The National Science Foundation agreed with Padgett. In 2003, NSF awarded him and Craig Bailey, assistant professor of biological sciences at UNCW, a $742,000 grant over five years to research watermold genetic relationships and taxonomy and to train the next generation of students to carry on this work after Padgett retires. To date some 20 UNCW undergraduates have been involved in this research either as paid assistants or for course credit through Directed Individual Study projects. Another 30 undergraduates are expected to take part in this research. Additionally, the program has involved three master's students and soon will accept two students who will work toward their doctoral degrees. All graduate students receive research assistant stipends and tuition paid by the grant. The NSF grant is also providing a major outreach project teaching the life cycles of living organisms to secondary schools in Southeastern North Carolina. "Watermolds are perfect models for teaching middle and high school students about the life cycles of living organisms as they go from birth to death," explained Padgett. "Watermolds have many things in common with all other living organisms including humans. The watermold curriculum material that we have developed is being implemented in at least four life science classes at New Hanover High School, and the material has been received enthusiastically both by teachers and students." In June, Chip Stone, teacher at New Hanover High School, and Padgett taught a watermold teacher workshop for middle and high school teachers from New Hanover, Pender, and Brunswick Counties through the UNCW Science and Math Education Center (SMEC).