Selecting a medium where slime mold doesn't grow

[Subash K. Ray]

Hi dear slimocos,

I am doing an experiment on slime mold Physarum polycephalum for which I want to grow them just on the periphery of a 85mm petri plate. For this, first, I covered the center of the petri dish with a transparency film (circular transparency 70 mm in diameter, thus leaving a 15 mm region on the periphery). But the slime molds still grew in the middle. Then I tried 3D print something using a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) filament, but the results were again not good enough.

Can anyone recommend me a medium to which the slime molds are repulsive to grow upon?

Best Regards,

Subash

[Lukas]

A mixture of baby powder and rubbing alcohol I used to keep ants in their ourworld seems to work as a barrier for slime molds too as long as they are not in need to search for food.

[Subash K. Ray]

Thank you Lukas.

Actually I am growing the slime molds on blank agar (i.e. with no food). So, will this formula still work?

Best,

Subash

[Lukas]

I think so, but I am not 100% sure because I have not tested a blank agar setup yet

[Subash K. Ray]

Thanks. Will try that and get back to you with the results :-)

Subassh

[ian]

They hate salt so a salt-agar disc should work. They also hate stilton cheese but that's less useful in the lab. I've had this problem making mazes, the bloody things will climb glass and basically cheat, I tried plasticine but they love it.