Protistology 8 (2) 53–61 (2014) |
Nivicolous myxomycetes in agar culture: some results and open problems |
1 V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
Summary A method to cultivate nivicolous species of myxomycetes in agar is proposed. Sixty three specimens of nivicolous myxomycetes representing 10 taxa (9 species and 1 variety) from 5 genera and 3 families were tested for ability to germinate in agar plates at room temperature. Germination occurred in 28 specimens of 6 species. In some samples microplasmodia started to appear at the same conditions, but in most samples further developmental stages were observed only when cultures were kept at +2°C. Two species (Lepidoderma chailletii and Physarum nivale) showed plasmodia formation, but we did not manage to cause sporulation. Partial sequences of the SSU gene obtained from cultured amoebae of two L. chailletii and one P. nivale specimens were identical to those obtained from their spores and comparison with GenBank sequences proved species identity. Some data about tolerance of L. chailletii amoebae to low temperatures were obtained that could be helpful in understanding the ecology of nivicolous myxomycetes. Key words: Amoebozoa, agar culture, germination, Myxogastria, nivicolous myxomycetes, temperature tolerance Address for correspondence: Oleg Shchepin. V.L. Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Popov Str. 2, 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia; e-mail: ledum_laconicum@mail.ru |
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