What do you mean by slime Moulds?

Slime mold or slime mould is an informal name given to several kinds of unrelated eukaryotic organisms that can live freely as single cells, but can aggregate together to form multicellular reproductive structures. When food is abundant, these slime molds exist as single-celled organisms.

What do slime molds resemble?

Slime molds are members of a shape-shifting group of organisms called myxomycetes. Although they often resemble fungi, slime molds are more closely related to amoebas and certain seaweeds.

Why is slime mold a protist?

Slime Molds The taxonomy of this group is still being reviewed, and changes occur frequently. Originally, they were considered fungi but are now classified as protists. The life cycle of slime molds is very similar to that of fungi. Haploid spores germinate to form cells that fuse to form a diploid zygote.

How are slime molds classified?

Slime molds are classified in the Kingdom Protista (the Protists), despite many years of having been classified as fungi, in the class Myxomycetes. The Myxomycota are the true (plasmodial) slime molds and the Acrasiomycota are the cellular slime molds.

What is plasmodium in slime moulds?

plasmodium, in fungi (kingdom Fungi), a mobile multinucleate mass of cytoplasm without a firm cell wall. A plasmodium is characteristic of the vegetative phase of true slime molds (Myxomycetes) and such allied genera as Plasmodiophora and Spongospora.

What is plasmodium in slime moulds Class 11?

Acellular Slime Moulds (Plasmodial) The feeding stage is a multinucleate mass of protoplasm, i.e. plasmodium. They can grow up to 1 ft in diameter. They are found creeping as a slimy mass over leaf litter, moist and decaying logs.

What is plasmodium in slime Moulds Class 11?

Why slime Moulds are called fungus animals?

Slime moulds possess the characters of both animals and fungi. Therefore, they are commonly called fungus animals. They are like Protozoa in their amoeboid plasmodial stage and similar to true fungi in spore formation.

What is slime moulds plasmodium?

The plasmodium of a slime mold is formed from the fusion of myxamoebae or of swarm cells (gametes). Myxamoebae are spores released from a slime mold that possess pseudopodia (lobes of cellular material) and are known for their amoeba-like appearance and behaviour.

What is slime moulds explain what is meant by plasmodium with reference to slime moulds?

Slime moulds are the members of the kingdom Protista. Under suitable conditions, slime moulds form an aggregation called plasmodium which may grow and spread over several feet. During unfavorable conditions, the plasmodium differentiates and forms fruiting bodies bearing spores at their tips.

Does slime moulds have cell wall?

The Myxomycota are the true slime molds, also known as the plasmodial slime molds, and are considered members of the kingdom Protista. They exist in nature as a plasmodium—a blob of protoplasm without cell walls and only a cell membrane to keep everything in (Fig. 13).

Can slime mold be eaten?

Not only is slime mold harmless, it’s also edible! In parts of Mexico it is gathered and scrambled like eggs in a dish they call “caca de luna” but we don’t recommend that you eat it. Slime molds are not actually molds, fungi, plant, animal or bacteria—they consume fungi and bacteria on decaying plant material.