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. 1962 Feb;83(2):234–240. doi: 10.1128/jb.83.2.234-240.1962

METHOD FOR INDUCING SPORULATION OF PURE CULTURES OF THE MYXOMYCETE PHYSARUM POLYCEPHALUM

John W Daniel 1, Harold P Rusch 1
PMCID: PMC277720  PMID: 13883384

Abstract

Daniel, John W. (University of Wisconsin, Madison) and Harold P. Rusch. Method for inducing sporulation of pure cultures of the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum. J. Bacteriol. 83:234–240. 1962.—Techniques for inducing sporulation of pure cultures of Physarum polycephalum are described. Small plasmodia grown in agitated culture were harvested, allowed to fuse into large plasmodia (1.3 g wet weight each), and, after incubation in the dark on a salts medium, exposed to light for 2 hr. The ensuing formation of sporangia containing spores was complete after 12 to 16 hr. The obligatory conditions for sporulation are: (i) an optimal growth age occurring just prior to the maximal growth of the organism and at a time when nutrients in the medium are exhausted; (ii) 4 days of incubation on a medium containing only inorganic salts and niacin or tryptophan; and (iii) subsequent illumination with light of wavelengths between 350 and 500 mμ.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. DANIEL J. W., RUSCH H. P. The pure culture of Physarum polycephalum on a partially defined soluble medium. J Gen Microbiol. 1961 May;25:47–59. doi: 10.1099/00221287-25-1-47. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
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