OBSERVATIONS ON THE FEEDING HABITS OF THE SWARM CELLS OF MYXOMYCETES

摘要: The Myxomycetes are a group of small, rather inconspicuous organisms having affinities with both the plant and animal kingdoms, their study, which has been chiefly taxonomic, developed almost entirely during last half century (8, 9, 13). Early writers were unaware true nature thought them Gasteromycetes because superficial similarity to that group. Fries in I829 (3) realized they not "puff balls" created new sub-order, Myxogastres, contain them, although still including Gasteromycetes. It was until I858, when DeBary (I) worked out remarkable life history found spores gave rise, mycelium but swarm cells later united form plasmodium, or Slime Moulds removed from considered as separate group, unrelated higher filamentous fungi. On feeding habits vegetative cells, little information obtained by previous investigators, methods plasmodium obtains its food have more carefully out. Previous I890, Lister (7) proved bacteria ingested, obtain all nutriment solution. Since time, others shown constitute considerable part food, recently, study this point, writer (5) Dictydiaethalium plumbeum able take digest only bacteria, also certain purpose present investigation, therefore, determine whether ability ingest fungous is general throughout and, if so, find on how great diversity species fungi would feed.