Growth and migration of plasmodia of the myxomycete Physarum polycephalum: the effect of carbohydrates, including agar.

A method for studying the growth and migration of myxomycete plasmodia on the surface of agar and other gels was devised. The migration rate of plasmodia of Physarum polycephalum was greatly reduced when nutrients that permit rapid growth were present, and slightly reduced by most sugars tested at 56 mM, including some that were not utilized. The carbohydrate requirement of the myxomycete could be satisfied by a range of sugars and derivatives, including mannitol and agar, utilization of the latter being slight but definite. Fructose could be utilized as long as it was not the sole carbohydrate present.