25 - Slime Molds

Cellular

individual amoebae that aggregate and form more complex structures

plasmodial

single, multinucleate large cell

Amoeba

all described slime molds have this phase, typically uninucleate, unicellular, no cell wall, phagocytosis

sorocarp

cellular slime mold fruiting body

sporocarp

plasmodial slime mold fruiting body

Labyrinthulids (net slime molds)

produces slimeways as tracks for cells to glide along, biflagellate zoospores, most marine or estuarine (rarely freshwater), saprobes parasites

Labyrinthula terrestris

rapid blight on turf, occurs due to buildup of sodium, infection through leaf wounds, problematic in golf courses

Labyrinthula zosterae

eelgrass wasting disease, asymptomatic until plant gets stressed, interferes with photosynthesis, outbreak in 1930s killed 90% of eelgrass

Plasmodiophora (endoparasitic slime molds)

multinuculate wall-less protoplasts, cannot move, no phagocytosis, live entirely inside host cells, biflagellate zoospores necrotrophic parasites of vascular plants, hypertrophy and hyperplasia

plasmodiophora brassicae

clubroot of cabbage

Spongospora subterranea

powdery scab of potatoes

Acrasida (acrasid cellular slime molds)

aggregate behavior, moist soil, organic debris, dung, eats bacteria, yeasts, and decaying vegetation

Dictyostelids - cellular slime molds

when they run out of food they aggregate, forming pseudoplasmodium with cAMP, and move as a slug to optimal spore dispersal location

Dictyosteloim discoideum

model organism, entire cycle completed in one day

myxogastrids - plasmodial slime molds

no cell wall, can switch between biflagellated and non flagellated body forms,

Physarum polyceophalum

external spatioal memory similar to pheromone trail for ants but made of slime

sporangium

several to many stalked or unstalked spore masses that are sepatrate but formed from a common plasmodium

Plasmodiocarp

a spore mass that remains connected and retains the shape of the plasmodium

Aethalium

a cushion or puffball shaped sporocarop where almost all of the tissues become spores

pseudoaethalium

composite structure composed of several sporangia massed together

capillitium

thick hyphal-like cords that provide structure and retain the spores for wind dispersal made by caco3 in slime molds

Fuligo septica

dog vomit slime mold

Protostelia

formplasmodia and some can form swarmers

Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa

one of the most common slime molds