Phylum Myxomycota Phylum Acrasiomycota Phylum Oomycota FUNGUS-LIKE PROTISTS Phylum Myxomycota Phylum Acrasiomycota Phylum Oomycota http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/science/04slime.html?_r=5&pagewanted=all&

CHARACTERISTICS why fungus-like? with centrioles appearance mode of nutrition with centrioles no chitin in cell walls non-photosynthetic 2-stage life cycle spore-bearing mold-like stage free-living amoeba-like stage Stemonitis fusca http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2011/11/slime-mold.html, http://www.nationalgeographicstock.com/comp/04/442/1030283.jpg Comatricha typhoides

Dominant state near rich sources of food (phagocytic) Fruiting body Spore-bearing structure Cells aggregate into a slimy mass when food is scarce and moves to a better location http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/03/pr03106_images.htm

SLIME MOLDS Phylum Acrasiomycota Phylum Myxomycota Cellular slime molds Phylum Myxomycota Acellular slime molds

Phylum Myxomycota Acellular or plasmodial slime molds plasmodium large cytoplasmic mass (multinucleate) feeding stage unfavorable conditions: “fruiting” sporangia spring up from plasmodium meiosis  haploid spores flagellated gametes →diploid zygote (sexual reproduction) →*diploid amoeboid cells e.g. Physarum http://biodidac.bio.uottawa.ca

http://home. sandiego. edu/~gmorse/2009BIOL221/Study_guide2/plasmodial http://home.sandiego.edu/~gmorse/2009BIOL221/Study_guide2/plasmodial.jpg

Physarum polycephalum

Comatricha typhoides

Lycolaga epinendrum “wolf’s milk”

Stemonitis splendens “chocolate tube slime”

Arcyris denudata “carnival candy slime”

Brefeldia maxima “tapioca slime”

Tubifera ferruginosa “red raspberry slime”

http://xkcd. com/877/ , http://www. uknature. co. uk/F. septica http://xkcd.com/877/ , http://www.uknature.co.uk/F.septica.jpg, http://i55.tinypic.com/313k32b.jpg, http://i56.tinypic.com/flly6t.jpg

Phylum Acrasiomycota cellular slime molds pseudoplasmodium separated by cell membranes cell aggregation slug-like form migrates to form fruiting body spores by mitosis e.g. Dictyostelium discoideum

Phylum Oomycota water molds/downy mildew cellulosic cell wall live on organic matter in water, plant parasites on land hyphae  finely-branched single-celled filaments coenocytic/aseptate  no walls between cells motile spores Phytophthora infestans  http://www.bluepointenvironmental.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/coenocytic-hyphae-60x-LP.jpg

Significance decomposers food source of other organisms parasites of plants (grapes, tomatoes, potatoes) and animals used to plan routes (shortest distance) rich areas for biological study http://www.gardencentre.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/potato-blight.jpg, http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/tokyo-mold-railway.jpg