PLASMODIUM OF MYXOMYCETE LICEA BIFORIS IN AGAR CULTURE

Clumping of swarm cells coincides with the appearance of the 1st minute plasmodia and is followed by what appears to be a coalescence of swarm cells with the plasmodia. As the plasmodia develop they exhibit the characteristics of protoplasmodla, but when 2 of them coalesce, reversible streaming can be detected in the protoplasmic bridge which joins them until union is complete. Plasmodia may divide, as they reach maturity, each portion then developing into a sporangium. Sixty-four single spore isolates yielded plasmodia, 58 of which fruited. The isolate from which the spores were taken is, therefore, considered to be either homothallic or apogamic.