Light Effects on Fruiting of Physarum gyrosum

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Abstract
Physarum gyrosum Rost., when cultured on water agar and an oatmeal-filter paper, remained plasmodial in the dark, but after exposure to light all the plasmodium was converted to sporangia. Cultures exposed to 440 ft.-c. of light fruited more rapidly than those exposed to lower intensities; however, 1 ft.-c. for 180 hours was sufficient to stimulate fruiting. Twelve hours'' exposure to 440 ft.-c. stimulated fruiting, but responses of replicates varied. Age affected the rapidity of the response to light. Temperature also affected it. A day-night regime temperature of 32-26.5[degree]C induced the most rapid fruiting. Cultures deprived of nutrients required longer light exposure than did fed cultures. Plasmodia were colorless when developing in darkness, but became pale yellow when exposed to light. Injuring the plasmodia induced a red pigment.