Fungus – Like Protists Chapter 19 p. 540

Fungus-like Protists Slime mold These organisms lack chlorophyll and absorb food through cell walls Include cellular slime molds, acellular slime molds, and water molds Water Mold

Kingdom Fungi vs. Kingdom Protista Fungi have cell walls made of chitin Fungus-like protists contain centrioles while true fungi lack centrioles

Phylum Acrasiomycota Cellular Slime Molds Begin life cycle as ameba-like cells When a cell begins to run out of moisture or food, it sends out chemical signals that attract other cells of the same species Thousands of cells will aggregate into a large slug-like mass This mass migrates for several centimeters and then stops to form a fruiting bodyreleases spores

Contain haploid spores! FRUITING BODY Contain haploid spores!

Phylum Myxomycota Acellular Slime Molds Begin life cycles as amebalike cells that grow into large masses The Mass is actually a single cell with thousands of nuclei

Slime Mold on the move Slime Mold movement

Acellular Slime Mold cont. They stream across leaves and twigs eating bacteria and other organic matter Eventually they form fruiting bodiesspores When they make contact with soil, they germinate to produce flagellated cells These cells fuse to produce diploid (2n) amebalike cells

Water Molds Phylum Oomycota They thrive on dead or decaying matter They have cell walls made of cellulose and produce spores that swim rapidly!! These characteristics are ones that fungi do not share makes them a protist! Most live in water but some live on land Land water molds include parasites of crops like grapes, avocados and potatoes

Water Mold

Potato Mold and Grape Mold