Slime moulds are saprophytic protists. The body moves along decaying twigs and leaves engulfing organic material. Under suitable conditions, they form an aggregation called plasmodium which may grow and spread over several feet. During unfavourable conditions, the plasmodium differentiates and forms fruiting bodies bearing spores at their tips. The spores possess true walls. They are extremely resistant and survive for many years, even under adverse conditions. The spores are dispersed by air currents.

General Characteristics of Slime Moulds

• Slime moulds are found creeping on debris, decaying leaves or twigs, in soil, on the forest floor, on tree canopies and moist, dark and cool conditions
• The protoplast is not surrounded by a cell wall in the vegetative phase
• They are saprophytic and lack chlorophyll. They feed on microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and yeasts and decompose dead organic matter
• Some of the slime moulds are parasitic and found in the roots of cabbage and other plants of Brassicaceae family
• The plasmodial stage resembles protozoa and fruiting bodies form spores resembling fungi
• Spores have a cell wall made up of cellulose and are resistant to adverse conditions. They can survive for many years.

Slime Moulds Classification

Slime mould are classified under kingdom Protista. They resemble fungi as well as protozoa. In modern taxonomy, the true slime moulds come under Mycetozoa. They are further classified in different classes. The main classes of slime moulds are the following:

• Myxomycetes- True slime mould or acellular slime mould. They are characterised by syncytial (multinucleated), plasmodial stage
• Dictyostelia- Cellular slime moulds. They do not form huge coenocytes
• Protostelia- Simple, minute, amoeboid slime mould
• Acrasia- Cellular slime mould similar to dictyostelids but have eruptive pseudopodia
• Plasmodiophomycetes- Parasitic slime moulds. They are found as an internal parasite in cabbage roots. They cause various diseases in plants such as clubroot disease of cabbage
• Labyrinthulae- Net slime mould. Form a network of tubes in which amoeba without pseudopodia can swim freely
• Fonticula- Form volcano-shaped fruiting bodies

Slime mould are mainly of two types: Acellular and Cellular slime mould. Acellular slime mould are also known as Plasmodial slime mould.

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By Team Learning Mantras