NUTRITION OF CELLULAR SLIME MOLDS II. Growth of Polysphondylium pallidum in Axenic Culture

Hohl, Hans-Rudolf (University of Wisconsin, Madison) and Kenneth B. Raper. Nutrition of cellular slime molds. II. Growth of Polysphondylium pallidum in axenic culture. J. Bacteriol. 85:199–206. 1963.—Several strains of Polysphondylium pallidum were grown on a liquid soluble medium in axenic culture. The medium contained embryo extract, serum albumin, Tryptose, dextrose, vitamins, and salts. The final cell yield was about 6–11 × 106 cells/ml, depending on the strain. The generation time was usually about 5 to 6 hr. The myxamoebae were grown for over 125 generations on this soluble complex medium without decrease in growth vigor or loss of their capacity to form normal fructifications when removed to an appropriate surface (e.g., agar). Thus the whole life cycle of this species was completed in the absence of any bacteria or bacterial products. Other species of the Dictyosteleaceae grew less well or failed to grow in the liquid medium described.