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Abstract
A new species of Physarum (Myxomycetes), Physarum atacamense is described in this paper, and details are provided on its life cycle as observed in spore-to-spore culture in agar. The new species was collected during studies of the Atacama Desert in Chile. It has been collected directly in the field and isolated in moist chamber cultures prepared with material from an endemic cactus. The combination of characters that make this species unique in the genus are its large fusiform nodes of the capillitium, its long, bicolored stalk and the very dark brown and densely warted angular spores. The morphology of specimens of this myxomycete was examined with scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy, and micrographs of relevant details and life cycle stages are included in this paper. The importance of resistant stages in the life cycle of this myxomycete is stressed, and the close association of this myxomycete with its plant substrates is discussed.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (project CGL2008-00720/BOS). We are very grateful for the help of Yolanda Ruiz León (Real Jardín Botánico) for her technical assistance with SEM, Carlos de Mier for his help with some of the light micrographs and Dr Edward Haskins (University of Washington, USA) for his valuable comments on culture techniques.