Plasmodial slime molds exist as large amoebae filled with many diploid (2n) nuclei.

When conditions signal the amoeba to end its vegetative phase (lack of food or moisture), the plasmodium coalesces into a fruiting structure (sporocarp).

Inside the sporocarp, the nuclei undergo meiosis to produce haploid spores.

Spores are released and germinate when conditions are right. The spore might germinate to produce an amoeba or a flagellated swarm cell.

Swarm cells and amoebae are able to transition between these stages. At some point, these haploid (1n) cells will fuse to produce a diploid amoeboid zygote.

Plasmogomy is the fusion of cytoplasm of two cells. Karyogamy is the fusion of nuclei and leads to the production of a diploid zygote.

The zygote will grow, replicating the nuclei with no cytokinesis, to form the multinucleate plasmodium.

A mature plasmodium (multinucleated free-flowing mass of protoplasm) can produce sclerotium (small cells) in a dry habitat.