Plasmodial slime

Taxobox
name = Plasmodial Slime Molds
domain = Eukaryota
regnum = Amoebozoa
phylum = Myxomycota
subdivision_ranks = Classes
subdivision =
Ceratiomyxomycetes
Echinosteliomycetes
Myxogasteromycetes
Stemonitomycetes

Plasmodial slime molds are single-celled organisms which are not closely related to fungi or cellular slime molds, even though they appear similar to cellular slime molds in appearance.cite book |last= Raven |first=P.H. |authorlink=Peter H. Raven |coauthors=Evert, R.; Eichhorn, S.E. |title= Biology of Plants |publisher= W.H. Freeman & Company |isbn= 978-1572590410 ] Not only that, but they primarily store energy as glycogen like fungi and cellular slime molds. Plasmodial slime molds can not live in an aquatic environment and are entirely terrestrial. Plasmodial slime molds get their name from their lack of cell walls or “naked” cells. These heterotrophic organisms use this to their advantage, because they are able to engulf and digest bacteria, yeast, fungal spores, and decaying matter.

Reproduction

The organism can undergo asexual reproduction, and also has a sporic meiosis life cycle, or alternation of generations. The cycle differs from many other organisms in that it has two haploid forms, a diploid form, and a multinucleate plasmodium. The multinucleate plasmodium can form a dormant encysted stage, the sclerotium, or form sporangia, which produce haploid spores. These spores may also be dormant, or germinated into one of two forms, amoebas or flagellated gametes. Two gametes may then fuse to form a diploid zygote, which grows into a multinucleate plasmodium.

References