Question

“Naked fungi” (slime moulds) are naked
A)When they are reproducing
B)When they are not reproducing
C)Always naked
D)Never naked

Answer 1

The decay and decomposition of the organic matter in the soil are caused by the slime moulds. They usually move over the ornamental plants because of that the plants look ugly. For the study of structure and physiology of protoplasm, their plasmodium is an excellent material for the study.

Complete answer:
-Slime mould has different morphology at different life stages and they are placed under myxomycetes. The haploid amoeboid cell is known as pseudoplasmodium is the vegetative stage of cellular slime moulds.
-The multinucleate diploid amoeboid mass known as plasmodium is the acellular slime mould.
-The Wall-less mass of multinucleated protoplast which is surrounded all over by the slime is known as plasmodium. Hence, the name as naked fungi.
-The sporangium on the fruiting bodies (sporocarp) is produced by the sexual reproduction under favorable conditions by slime moulds that carry haploid spores.
-The uninucleate segments surrounded by a cell wall are formed by the cytoplasmic division of the multinuclear protoplasm of sporangia.
-Hence, slime moulds are not the naked or the Wall-less in its reproductive phase but have a cell wall.

Additional Information: -A multinucleate mass of protoplasm also called plasmodium consists of numerous diploid nuclei in its vegetative stage.
-The plasmodium may be only a few millimetres in diameter to a large pizza size over 12 inches generally depending on the type of species of slime moulds.
-Like the amoeba, plasmodium also moves flowing over the surface and ingest organic matter, generally dead leaves and wood.
-They are brightly coloured (yellow) and some tropical slime moulds are bioluminescent and glow in the dark.
-Some help in the decomposition of that organic matter in the temperate and tropical forest, Hence, they are important heterotrophs.

So, the correct answer is,” When they are not reproducing”.

Note: -slime moulds comprise of an acellular mass of a naked protoplasm having no cell wall in its vegetative stage.
-The Slime moulds feed on the dead and decaying leaves, locks of woods, and decaying vegetative matter. They prefer to grow in damp places during or after the rain.
-They engulf the bacteria by the process called phagocytosis and generally are of attractive colours.