Mycosystema. 2013, 32(增刊): 20-44.
A historical review of studies on the genus Pythium in mainland China was conducted, covering the occurrence, distribution, taxonomy, pathogenicity, plant disease control and its utilization. To date, 64 species of Pythium have been reported and 13 were described as new to the world: P. acrogynum, P. amasculinum, P. baisense, P. boreale, P. breve, P. connatum, P. falciforme, P. guiyangense, P. guangxiense, P. hypoandrum, P. kummingense, P. nanningense and P. sinensis. The dominant species is P. aphanidermatum causing serious damping off and rotting of roots, stems, leaves and fruits of a wide variety of plants throughout the country. Most of the Pythium species are pathogenic with 44 species parasitic on plants, one on the red alga, Porphyra: P. porphyrae, two on mosquito larvae: P. carolinianum and P. guiyangense and two mycoparasitic: P. nunn and P. oligandrum. In comparison, 48 and 28 species have been reported, respectively, from Taiwan and Hainan Island with one new species described in Taiwan: P. sukuiense. The prospect of future study on the genus Pythium in mainland China was discussed.