Fuligo septica Spores Onboard a Stratospheric NASA Balloon and Its Complete In Vitro Life Cycle.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate for the first time Fuligo septica spore viability in the stratosphere through spore germination and its complete life cycle. These protozoan spores were flown by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) flight 667NT, launched from its base in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. F. septica spores were exposed to stratospheric conditions on board the NASA/CSBF 667 balloon flight for 9 h. The spores obtained after the flight and those from the control box that stayed at ground maintained the same size and morphology, as will be shown in this work. The spores retained viability, and all life cycle stages were obtained by in vitro culture. Moreover, some life cycle events were observed for the first time in F. septica.

The life cycles of two species of Myxomycetes in Physarales, Physarum rigidum and Didymium squamulosum.

Myxomycetes are eukaryotic microorganisms containing characteristics akin to both fungi and amoebae. They can complete their whole life cycles while being cultured on agar media, and under-laboratory conditions, which favors taxonomic, phylogenetic, and cytological researches. Here, we describe the life cycles of two such species: Didymium squamulosum collected from the field and Physarum rigidum cultured from moist chamber both belonging to the Order Physarales. Three per cent oat-agar media (OAM) was used to culture the plasmodia until they aggregated and were almost starved. Natural light was then applied to the plasmodia to induce fructification. Their life cycles share the same common stages, namely: spore, myxamoebae, swarm cell, plasmodia, and sporulation. In this study, we describe the morphogenesis from spore to spore of two species by differential interference contrast (DIC) and stereoscopic microscopies, as well as discuss the differences between the development of both species and interspecies. We found that the spore germination method of both species was the same. However, there were differences noted in time taken and fruiting body formation. Unlike P. rigidum, the species D. squamulosum did not require natural light stimulation. Moreover, the maturation process of both species had similar color transitions but exhibited distinct morphology in each developmental stage except during the swarm cell stage.

Description and culture of a new succulenticolous Didymium (Myxomycetes).

A new succulenticolous Myxomycete species, Didymium wildpretii, found on decaying remains of various species of cacti, is described from two arid zones of the world. This species was collected from central Mexico, at the southern limit of the Chihuahuan Desert, and from the Canary Islands (Spain). The new species has small, pale yellow sporocarps, 0.1-0.7 mm high, that are sessile or have short, orange-yellow, calcareous stalks and small, uniformly warted spores. The stability of the taxonomic characters of the species was confirmed with both moist chamber cultures and spore-to-spore culture on agar. Life cycle events are described from germination to sporulation. Myxomycete specimens were examined with scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy, and micrographs of relevant morphological details are included.