Slime Moulds
Slime moulds occasionally cause concern when they appear on plants, but they do not attack or kill the plant. They vary greatly in their colour, size and form. Their spore-producing structures are often very fragile, disintegrating when touched.
Quick facts
Common name: Slime mould
Scientific name: Various, but by far the largest sub-group seen in a garden are acellular slime moulds called myxomycetes
Plants affected: Various
Main symptoms: Slimy growths, often on lower stems
Caused by: Slime moulds
Timing: Present year-round, but most likely to be seen in late summer / early autumn
What are slime moulds?
Slime moulds typically occur in cool, moist, shady places like crevices within decaying wood, beneath the partially decayed
Symptoms
- Slime mould plasmodia (see 'Biology' section, below) are very variable in appearance, depending on the species. They can be colourless, or come in a range of colours, including yellows, oranges and reds. The plasmodium constantly changes its’ shape as it creeps along, and is sometimes seen as a slimy ‘sheet’, or a network of strands, on the soil, grass or stems and lower branches of plants.
- The spore-producing structures (fruiting bodies) of slime moulds are seen as clusters of tiny nodules on the plasmodium surface, sometimes held on stalks (typically no more than 1-2 mm tall); often in the form of tiny goblets, globes or plumes. They can appear quite suddenly, sometimes overnight. Slime moulds commonly produce masses of tiny, black spores as their fruiting structures disintegrate, which are mostly wind-dispersed. Once the fruiting bodies have formed and the spores dispersed, the plasmodium will disappear.
- Although very small, the fruiting bodies can look quite spectacular, as seen in
- May be confused with:
- lichens and moss
- algae on leaves
- saprophytic fungi
- fungi that grows on plant material
Control
Biology
Slime moulds are triggered into spore production by environmental conditions. When food supplies begin to wane the plasmodium migrates to the surface and produces fruiting bodies, which are the fungi-like structures that we find. The fruiting bodies produce spores which germinate into the single-celled structures, beginning the life cycle again. The spore-producing structures may develop throughout the year, but are found most commonly in late summer and autumn.
The spores of many slime moulds are extremely resilient and can survive in a dried-out form for many years before germinating. Equally, if conditions become get too wet, the single celled units grow flagella (tails) and switch to a free-swimming cell form.
Slime moulds have been used in some incredible practical applications, including and !
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