Abstract:
Simultaneous improvisation in expertise and facilities in disease diagnosis have led to the identification
of several previously unknown pathogens and diseased conditions. Saprolegniosis is one of the disease
for which no known remedies were discovered yet. The current research was intended to study the
presence and characterization of Saprolegnia spp. The study results hoped to be beneficial to many
aspects of aquaculture and research on Saprolegniosis. Water sample was collected from Sivanamman
pond (9°40’50.9”N and 80°01’43.6”E). Saprolegnia spp. was isolated by baiting method under in
vitro condition. Identification and characterization was carried out on cultural, vegetative and sexual
characteristics featured by Saprolegnia spp. under microscopic observation. Isolate was identified as
an aquatic fungus belongs to Saprolegnia spp. with respect to the sporulation from zoosporangium and
sexual reproductive structures. The sexual morphologies were significant after a starvation (26 days)
in the PDA. Eucarpic mycelium was transparent, vacuolated cytoplasm contained several nuclei and
produced differential oogonium with oospores. The results of present study reveal the occurrence of
Saprolegnia spp. in Jaffna urban ponds and evidently prove that the mold is administrable in PDA
medium.
