Diet and mitonuclear haplotype interactions affect growth rate in a slime mould

Using a panel of six slime mould mitonuclear strains, we show that the growth rate of P. polycephalum is generally higher on diets containing more carbohydrates than protein. Three-way interactions between mitochondrial, nuclear haplotypes and dietary P:C ratios affected the strains' surface area of growth but not biomass. And, the strains did not increase their surface area and biomass when they had access to all diets on the buffet menu, compared to a set menu where they had access to one type of diet.