Occurrence of Zoosporic Organisms in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia

Thirty-eight species in addition to 2 varieties (3 unidentified) of zoosporic organisms belonging to 14 genera of Oomycetes and 3 genera of Chytridiomycetes were recovered from 50 soil samples randomly collected from different localities in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Allomyces and Dictyuchus have the highest frequency of occurrence while Achlya, Aqualinderella, Saproleginia and Phytophthora were of moderate occurrence, The remaining genera were less frequent. Seven species and two varieties were new records to Saudi Arabia, which are Achlya oblongata, Allomyces javancius var. allomorphus, Aphanomyces stellatus, Blastoccladia gracile, Dictyuchus magnusii, Olpidiopsis Saproleginia var. levis, Olpidium species, Phytophthora megasperma, and Saproleginia turfosa. Water and organic matter contents of soil samples are considered as major factors influencing the prevalence and occurrence of zoosporic organisms.