Some Discussion

Preliminary thoughts on 2014 observations:

1. Plasmo not as abundant in 2014 as it was in 2006 during Walker's sampling (a possible carryover from Katrina stress in 2005?)

2. Hypothesis that Plasmo may be more readily found in fall might have some support, probably allows time for parasitic galls to become more evident on plant shoots.

3. Summer/fall often has higher salinity(?) combined with warm water temps, which may promote infection of plants (similar to Thalassia and Labyrinthula infections - could it be a similar mechanism whereby those conditions "weaken" the seagrass cortical cells?)

4. Plasmo disease transmission mechanism unknown - based on location of infection (galls) it might be from sediments. This is the case in the terrestrial Brassicaeae infected with "clubfoot" disease.

Interesting information in the collection dates of all known specimens of Plasmodiophora reported in the literature to date (note seasons in tropics are in "" and locations in southern Hemisphere in red text):