Question

Slime mould complete their life cycle in ....... stage.

• A. Haploid
• B. Diploid
• C. Polyploid
• D. Triploid

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Diploid

Once a spore is released from the fruiting body, it is dispersed, either by insects, animals, and rain or air movement. On landing on a suitable location with appropriate moisture and temperature, one to four protoplasts are germinated. The protoplasts once released from the spore's wall through either a pore or fissure will be either a flagellated swarm cell if conditions are wet, or a nonflagellated myxamoebae cell in dryer conditions. If conditions for growth are not suitable, the cells can become microcysts to survive long periods of time. A diploid zygote is formed, when two compatible myxamoebae or swarm cells fuse. This is known as plasmogamy and karyogamy. After a time of feeding and growing, the zygote develops into a single celled multinucleate structure known as a plasmodium. If environmental conditions are not suitable, then the plasmodium can change into another dormant state known as the sclerotium. When the conditions are right, the mature plasmodium produces one to many fruiting bodies containing spores depending on species.