MYXOMYCETES XIV – Hypothallus Formation?

[Walter Piorkowski]

Scale of frame, 1.75mm horizontal
Canon 10D
Canon 20mm f.l. lens @ f/5.6 on extension tubes
Series of 45 images at .0005 inch increments
Diffused fiber optic illumination
Combine ZM, Photoshop
Collected 6/20/07, Imaged 6/20/07



I was going to hold this image for a while but Riks Dictoyostelium link in Myxomycetes XIII, displayed a nice diagram of the social amoebic cells starting the formation of the new fruiting body. See lettered stages c-d-e. The object of most interest in this image is the small orange feature on the lower right. Although not cellular slime molds, myxomycetes follow a similar sequence and this image shows the earliest possible stage of the fruiting body formation that I can obtain with macro graphic equipment pushed to the maximum. The next step is through the microscope to catch the first emergence of the first cells to form the hypothallus.

My first thoughts on this were that these cells may be transparent in nature. As the object in the lower right would attest even at this stage they may be the color of the peridium of the fruiting body. The rising spherical peridium in the center has not set formed its stalk in this image. It never did as extracting it from its environment for this image changed the conditions of emergence and it stopped. Enjoy this rare sight for a myxo hunter.

Walt

[Ken Ramos]

Walt you really need to submitt these to the UARK Eumycetozoan Project Database. I would bet that they would be very interested in your work. I know that I am of course being a myxo lover. The worst that could happen is that they do not respond to your submission or on the other hand, they may want to or request to, put your images into publication. I would be surprised if they did not contact you.

Yes they are quite a pick bunch of cells. Put them in an out of the way place and they sull up on you and just quit doing what they were doing. Fabulous shot of the protoplasmic upheaveal!
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Ken Ramos
Rutherford Co., Western North Carolina

"Social isolate?"

[beetleman]

Another excellent photo Walter. I bet you were very excited to see that newly forming peridium in this photo. I agree with Ken...don`t be shy with your science
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Take Nothing but Pictures--Leave Nothing but Footprints.
Doug Breda

[Walter Piorkowski]

Thank you gentlemen and Ken I will contact the Eumycetozoan Project. I looked them up and it looks like the right place for what we do. Thanks again.

Walt

[Ken Ramos]

Tell you what there Walt, regardless of the reply you may or may not get. IMO those photographs are of value. I have not ran across any photographs, anywhere that present these H. calyculata as you have them here. They certainly deserve some merit in publication IMHO. Keep a sharp eye out for other species. S. axifera, C. frutiulosa, and A. denudata are quite common in my area and I would assume that they are in yours too.
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Ken Ramos
Rutherford Co., Western North Carolina

"Social isolate?"