Write short note on Slime Mould.

Explanation

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 may years even under adverse conditions.
Body organisation : The body of slime moulds is covered with mucilage having gelatinous consistency they do not have chlorophyll.
They are surrounded by plasma membrane. However, the spores have the cellulosic cell walls.
Special features: Anton De Bary related them to animals and called them as Mycetozoa.
These are also named as fungus animals because they share the common characters of both animals and are known as protistions fungi and due to their protistian nature.
They are like protozoa in their amoeboid plasmodial stage and similar to true fungi in spore formation
Acellular slime moulds (Plasmodial slime moulds) are commonly found on dead and decaying plant matter.
The cellular slime moulds occur in all humas containing upper layer of damp soil.
When the food supply is shorter or conditions are not favourable, the amoeboid cells form aggregate without any fusion.
This aggregated mass is called pseudoplasmodium.
The examples of cellular slime moulds are dictyostelium and polysphondylium.
Economic importance : Slime moulds are beneficial as they cause the decomposition of organic matter in the soil.
Example : Physarum, Stemonitis, Comatricha, Trichia.