A spore created by fungi which is thickly encysted (has a thick cell wall) in order to survive through stressful times, such as drought.

• Protects the spore from biotic (microbial, fungal viral), as well as abiotic (wind, heat, xeric conditions) factors.

Characteristics

Creates the phenomenon known as late potato blight.

• Does this by virtue of the fact that the resting spore can lie dormant within the soil of a field for decades until the right conditions occur for viability (plant host present, rain, fire etc.).

References

• C.J. Alexopolous, Charles W. Mims, M. Blackwell, Introductory Mycology, 4^th ed. (John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken NJ, 2004) ISBN 0-471-52229-5