Occurrence of pseudopodial abstriction in the aphanoplasmodium of Stemonitis flavogenita (Myxomycetes, Stemonitales)

Abstract

The first photographic evidence is presented of the derivation of uninucleate, amoeboid cells from aphanoplasmodia of Stemonitis flavogenita. This process, observed only in young plasmodia, involves the abstriction of aphanoplasmodial pseudopodia. The biological ramifications of this phenomenon are discussed. Key words: Stemonitis, Myxomycetes, pseudopodial abstriction, plasmodial to uninucleate amoeboid cell conversion.