Question

Under favorable conditions slime molds form
(a) Protonema
(b) Plasmodium
(c) Mycelium
(d) Fruiting bodies

Answer 1

Hint: They are a genus of parasitic protozoans that fall under the family Apicomplexa. They are known to infect the red blood cells in mammals like humans, birds, reptiles, and so on. They have a complex life cycle that includes three stages namely Gametocytes, Sporozoites, and Merozoites.

Complete answer:
Slime molds under favorable conditions that are during rainy weather and suitable state consume moisture from substratum and form plasmodium. Plasmodium is a genus of protozoans. This group of organisms commonly infects the red blood cells (RBCs) in humans and different mammals. The plasmodium parasite displays a complex life cycle because it uses an insect (mosquito) as a catalyst to hold and transmit the disease. In humans, plasmodium causes malaria, they need a vector for transmission. The female anopheles mosquito fulfills the aim of a vector, transmitting the organism to the host through its bite.

Additional information: The significant features of Slime Moulds are:
- Slime molds are present creeping on debris, decomposing leaves or twigs, in soil, on the forest floor, on tree canopies, and in moist, dark, and cool states.
- The protoplast is not enclosed through a cell wall in the vegetative phase.
- They are saprophytic and lack chlorophyll. They prey on microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and yeasts and decompose dead organic matter.
- Few of the slime molds are parasitic and present in the roots of cabbage and different plants of the Brassicaceae family.
- The plasmodial stage resembles protozoa and fruiting bodies form spores resembling fungi
- Spores have a cell wall made up of cellulose and are resistant to adverse conditions. They can survive for many years.
So, the correct answer is ‘(b) Plasmodium’.

Note: The plasmodium parasite is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes that are also known as ‘night biting’ mosquitoes, as they are active during dusk. Plasmodium is present most generally in Latin America, Asia, and some areas of Africa. The parasite plasmodium causes the communicable disease referred to as malaria.