Slime mold kit – Physarum polycephalum

Description

Choose one of the 2 options-

Either 2pc Physarum polycephalum or the whole kit

What is included in your kit:

1)2 pc Screlotum of Physarum polycephalum

2)70% isopropyl alcohol 100ml

3)Sterilised oats

4)5pcs-2% non-nutrient water agar plate

5)1 X20ml sterile water syringe

6)5 needles

7)5 sterile empty plates

8)Scalpel and 10 sterile blades

9)5 Sterile Paper filter

10)10 pre cut parafilm

11)Tweezers

To avoid contamination, all procedures must be conducted using sterile techniques in a still environment. Please use 70% isopropyl alcohol to sanitise all your work surfaces and tools before starting. Use a complete still room without a fan, air conditioning, or the door or window open.

Familiarise yourself with the conditions the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry imposes on you. If you purchase this product, you agree to abide by these conditions.

The goods must not be exposed to or used on animals other than laboratory animals and must not be used in plants, humans, or the environment. Laboratory organisms are guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, rabbits, or microorganisms under laboratory or animal house conditions.

Rootlab recommends not removing any label from the product and ensuring everyone in the team knows about these conditions.

Before you purchase this kit, remember that it’s not for beginners; proper sterile technique and disposable knowledge are needed. The kit should be used by adults over 18+ only and kids under the supervision of an adult. Improper technique will lead to contamination or no growth. We do not accept a refund or exchange of this kit.

Culturing *Physarum* from Sclerotia

1. Add a drop of sterile water directly from the syringe, or use one of the needles provided (optional) to insert into a 2% agar plate in the centre.
2. Place one of the sclerotium facedown onto the water droplet. Your kit contains two sclerotium.
3. Position roughly 10 oatmeal flakes from the oat container around the sclerotium. Flakes can be gently shaken from their container.
4. Cover the agar plate with its lid and seal with parafilm. Store it in a dark location with the lid facing upward. Wait 8–16 hours for the sclerotium to develop into a plasmodium.
5. Once formed, the plasmodium will move off the filter paper onto the oat flakes and agar surface.
6. Continue feeding the plasmodium by adding additional oat flakes as needed. If left unfed, it may escape the petri dish In cases of inadequate food or dry conditions, it will form spores or revert to sclerotium form.
7. Once the plasmodium has fully covered the original plate, transfer (subculture) it onto a new plate.

Subculturing *Physarum* (from an Active Culture)

To transfer *Physarum* to a fresh plate:

1. Prepare (heat-sanitise) a scalpel for cutting and transferring agar sections.

2. Use the sterilized scalpel to cut out a 1-cm square of agar containing plasmodium from an active culture plate.
3. Transfer this agar square onto a fresh 2% agar plate with its plasmodium side facing downward.
4. Add approximately 10 oat flakes to feed the plasmodium. Wrap the plate with Parafilm.

Inducing *Physarum* to Form Sclerotia

To encourage *Physarum* to form sclerotia:

1. Place a small piece or 1/4-cut sterile filter paper on a new 2% agar plate and moisten it with sterile water before lightly sprinkling sterile oat flakes over it.
2. Using previously described subculturing methods, transfer a 1-cm square of agar containing plasmodium onto this filter paper with its plasmodium side facing downward.
3. Seal the plate with parafilm and allow the plasmodium to grow until it completely covers the filter paper.
4. During this growth phase, Prepare a larger sterile filter paper inside an empty agar plate.
5. Once growth on the smaller filter paper is complete, moisten the larger piece with sterile water inside its container.
6. Use sterilized tweezers to transfer the smaller plasmodium-covered filter paper (along with any oat flakes) onto the center of the larger filter paper.
7. Allow time for the plasmodium to spread across most of the larger filter paper before removing the smaller piece containing oat flakes to starve it.
8. Gradually dry out the larger filter paper by partially opening its container’s lid; as it dries, sclerotium will form.

Sporulation

Facilitating sporulation can be challenging, as it is typically carried out under tightly regulated conditions in research laboratories. However, sporulation can occur more reliably if the following steps are adhered to:

1. Allow the plasmodium to cover the plate and deplete its food resources completely.
2. Position the plate upside down in a location exposed to daylight, but avoid placing it directly near a window.
3. Be patient. Sporulation might take several days or even longer. It is unlikely to happen if it does not occur within two weeks.

Slime molds are imported into Australia under a permit, and the kit price includes the permit’s application and maintenance cost. Video coming soon!