Observations on the Differentiation of Plasmodia into Fruiting Bodies by the True Slime Mould, Didymium nigripes

SUMMARY: Under defined experimental conditions plasmodia of Didymium nigripes began to differentiate into fruiting bodies 16-18 hr after transfer to bacteria-free agar. The process has been divided into a number of easily recognizable stages and the duration of each stage determined. Plasmodia lost ability to continue vegetative growth at a time before the actual fruiting bodies began to form.