Plasmodial slime

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.^[1] Not only that, but they primarily store energy as glycogen like fungi and cellular slime molds.^[2] Plasmodial slime molds can not live in an aquatic environment and are entirely terrestrial.^[3] Plasmodial slime molds get their name from their lack of cell walls or “naked” cells.^[4] These heterotrophic organisms use this to their advantage, because they are able to engulf and digest bacteria, yeast, fungal spores, and decaying matter.^[5]

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Reproduction

The organism can undergo asexual reproduction, and also has a sporic meiosis life cycle, or alternation of generations.^[6] The cycle differs from many other organisms in that it has two haploid forms, a diploid form, and a multinucleate plasmodium.^[7] The multinucleate plasmodium can form a dormant encysted stage, the sclerotium, or form sporangia, which produce haploid spores.^[8] These spores may also be dormant, or germinated into one of two forms, amoebas or flagellated gametes.^[9] Two gametes may then fuse to form a diploid zygote, which grows into a multinucleate plasmodium.^[10]

References

Raven et al. Biology of Plants. W.H. Freeman & Company. ISBN 978-1572590410.