Dear Piotr,

It does look as though you've stumbled onto the slime mold (which now is classified as Myxomycota, a protozoan that some refer to a separate kingdom, Myxogastria.  It is something generally studied by mycologists, although it is no longer classified in kingdom Fungi.  I'm not an expert, but it looks as though it is very similar to Fuligo (the most common species being Fuligo septica).  If you place it in a moist chamber and 'feed' it some oatmeal, you might be able to see it reform into the plasmodial stage.

Have fun!

Lorelei

thank you for your response.

Maybe there is someone who will take a closer examination.

Piotr

Dear Piotr,

I am sorry that I can not identify the specimens. My major is focusing on entomogenous fungi. However, I agree with Lorelei's opinion.

Thanks for your question.

Chunru

It looks like old sporocarps of the Gautieria species.

Vladimir

Old sporocarps of the Gautieria species are brown and retain the shape of the spores.

It would be wise to take a second look as the substrate appears abit dry which is unusual for a myxomycetes. The picture though resembles the plasmodium of a myxomycetes but showed no resemblance to any that I have seen. Go to index fungorum to confirm the direction you have been given concerning whether it is a myxomycetes or an ascomycetes.

In the third picture clear that is slime mold and its sclerotia but its old culture and this is why you have to subcultured and then examined again. I am not very sure but I think its ascomyctes.

Pictures 1, 2 et 3 illustrare lineamentis specimen.

I finally thought to enlarge the photos, which do NOT appear to represent a slime mold when seen in detail.  I agree the fruitbody does appear Gautieria-like macroscopically,  but the 'spores' are all wrong.  It would be very helpful if you could prepare a stained microscopic mount.  Anyway, I do -- with apologies -- withdraw my myxo suggestion!

 I can send to the person concerned fragment to be analyzed.

My earlier contribution to this interesting question failed to load but I wish to draw attention to the specimen looking macroscopically like some higher fungi rather than a plasmodium. I also assumed it was harvested on a log at the stage of decay process. Myxomycetes do not have the enzyme mechanism permitting growth on such logs. They microscopic slides showed spores that did not match those of myxomycetes as well. I am sorry more information and more active investigation involving stained section, culture preparation etc., would be required to make a reasonable suggestion. Send the specimen to mycobank for proper identification.

Thank you all for your comments.

Referring still to the topic I'd like to show you some references sought out on the web, something which resembles the object of my questions. Sclerotium concerns Physarum polycephalum:

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9344574

https://www.flickr.com/photos/24634827@N02/7620351464

https://sites.google.com/site/plasmodiumpulsation/cultivation?overridemobile=true

The Flickr photo is very close.  However, the difference between Physarum and your photo is that if you were to touch the Physarum, it would have little 'push-back' but more or less dissolve.  Your specimen looks far firmer looks as though it sliced very cleanly with a more or less crisp edge. Also, as someone earlier commented, the soil looks to be quite dry and the fruit bodies appear to be IN the dry soil -- not typical for a slime mold.  Your best bet would be to have someone knowledgeable about myxomycetes in your area examine the fruitbodies.  Try also contacting David Mitchell [[email protected]] or Steve Stephenson [[email protected]] for their opinions.

Lorelei

Thank you for yet another attempt to convince me that this is not slime :-)

My stubbornness stems from the fact that this "sporocarp/sclerotium" after drying has become very fragile, scatter in the hand.

Also ask the opinion of David Mitchell and Steve Stephenson.

Greeting

Piotr

The fragility you describe IS convincing!!  I'm fairly certain David or Steve should be able to help.  ;^)

I'm sorry I have not enclosed with this image. Apparent response to acid, which indicates the presence of CaCO3.

Hi Pjotr,

do you still have the organism - and did not dry it (kill it)? If yes, give it into some water and you will see if it is a sclerotium of a myxomycete (any other structure is excluded). If it is a sclerotium of a myxomycete (this would fit, as I think, except of the very detailed structure inside) it will change to become a plasmodium that ist easy to recognize.

I never analysed a sclerotium with the microscope - so I do not know what structures can be seen then. Interesting anyway ...

Regards from Lothar

Lothar, Thank you for taking the topic.

I just dried sclerotium. But if sclerotium is not meant to survive even after drying? I will try also to collect material again.

Regards

Piotr

Hello Piotr,

yes, it is meant to dry out, but I think it is not meant to dry out at high temperatures on a dryer (?). You can try it anyway, soak it in water :-) - if it is still alive and a myxomycete sclerotium, it will form a Plasmodium :-)

I just read your paper(s) on Lignomyces vetlinianus and hypogeous fungi in Pieniny. Good that you are interested in myxomycetes, too - do you know Diacheopsis pieninica?

Regards from Lothar

www.pilzkunde.de

Lothar

Mainly I am dealing with fungi. And as for Diacheopsis pieninica - I did not know. His position is outside the national park, and therefore do not have it listed species. From today, I will have Diacheopsis pieninica in mind :-)

Now, together with my friends we are currently working on genera Licea sp.

Regards from Piotr

I did not expect, because a year has passed, and sklerotium was dried.

Congratulations, Piotr - now the question is solved.

The other question is: what species? Perhaps you will be able to obtain fruitbodies? With some luck this should be possible :-)

Regards from Lothar

It might work. I gave them to digest oatmeal :-)

Hi Piotr,

I saw this your answer only today - thank you ;-)

Diacheopsis pieninica is a poorly known species, considered as doubtful. I once found something that could be similar near Regensburg (Germany) and published it in my diploma-work.

Licea is very interesting - good luck and much fun :-)

Regards from Lothar

Diachepsis pieninica - I'll try to find it, but knowing slime molds can not promise anything.

Best regards

Piotr