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Fungus-like Protists - Coggle Diagram
Fungus-like Protists
Myxomycota (Acellular slime molds)
Acellular slime molds are found in the phylum Myxomycota.
They are acellular because they go through a phase in their cycle in which the nucleus divides but no internal cell walls form, resulting in a mass of cytoplasm with multiple nuclei.
A plasmodium is an example of an acellular slime mold. A plasmodium is a mobile mass of cytoplasm that contains many diploid nuclei but no separate cells.
Can grow as large as 30cm in diameter.
Acellular slime molds begin their life as spores.
In the presence of water, the spore produces a small mass of cytoplasm, or an amoeboid cell, or a cell with a flagella.
The cell is propelled by the flagella until it comes in contact with a favorable surface. Then, the flagella permanently retract, and the cell produces pseudopods that allow it to move like an amoeba.
Both the flagellated cell and the amoeba-like cell are gametes and are haploid
When two gametes unite, the next phase of the life sycle begins.
The fertilized cells undergo repeated divisions of the nuclei, forming a plasmodium.
Spores are produced through meiosis and are dispersed by the wind.
Oomycota (Water molds & Downy Mildews)
Most members live in water or damp places.
Some absorb their nutrients from the surround water or soil, while others obtain their nutrients from other organisms.
Water molds were considered fungi because of their method of obtaining nutrients.
Water molds envelop their food sources by breaking down the tissue and absorb the nutrients through their cell wall.
Water molds differ from fungi in the composition of their cell walls and their production of flagellated reproductive cells.
The downy mildew Phytophthora infestans infect potato plants and destroys potatoes. This devastated the country's primary food source, and about one million people died of starvation of famine-related diseases. During this time, a large number of people emigrated from Ireland to the US to escape the terrible famine.
Acrasiomycota (Cellular slime molds)
Creep over rich, moist soil and engulf bacteria.
Spend most of their life cycle as single amoeba-like cells and have no flagella.
When food is scarce, they reproduce asexually. They give off a chemical called acrasin.
As a response to the chemical single, they form a slug-like colony that begins to function like a single organism. It migrates for a while, eventually forming a fruiting body. It produces spores. When the spores are fully developed, they are released. The spores germinate and form amoeba-like cells