Three species of Lagenidiales isolated from the eggs and zoeae of the marine crab Portunus pelagicus

Three species of Lagenidiales were isolated from the eggs and zoeae of the marine crab Portunus pelagicus. One of them, Lagenidium callinectes, is reported for the first time in Japan, with fungal infection in the eggs. Haliphthoros milfordensis was discovered from a zoea of the crab. Atkinsiella okinawaensis was also isolated from a zoea of the crab and described as a new species. Growth temperature range and optimum temperature of the fungi were examined. All of the isolates grew at various concentrations of NaCI or KCI, and optimum growth was observed on PYGS agar containing seawater. Pathogenicity to zoeae of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus was demonstrated by using a zoospore suspension of each fungus at 25°C.