oospore
Quick Summary
An oospore is a type of spore produced by heterogamous fertilization, meaning it results from the fusion of two different types of gametes. These spores are characteristic of organisms in the phylum Oomycota, which are fungus-like but distinct from true fungi.12
Oomycetes can live as saprotrophs on decaying matter or as parasites on plants. They can be found in aquatic, amphibious, or terrestrial environments. A notable example of an oomycete is Phytophthora infestans, which caused the devastating late blight of potatoes in Ireland, leading to the Great Famine.2
Unlike true fungi, oomycetes do not have chitin in their cell walls and have a predominantly diploid life cycle. They reproduce asexually via zoospores, which are motile spores with flagella. Sexual reproduction results in the formation of nonmobile oospores, which then germinate into mature individuals.2
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
