ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

5-1-1 INTPODUCTION
5.1 HMIMS
In order to investigate the microbial ecology of termite nestal
both quantitatively and qualitatively* suitable methods had to be
found which were both applicable to the problems set by the nature
of the system being inventioatedl and which could be carried out
Oiven the tacilities available at Mokwa.
All methods for Isolating the fungi present in materials such as
soil are selective. The use of different nutrientain tile agar media,
different incubation tenperatures and varying p1l of the media will
favour those fungi whose germination and growth optima are closest to
the experimental conditions, No technique can yet give the total
microflora of the system under Investigation* While this is the case
the dilution plate method will probably continue to be useds whicho
provided its limitations are realized, in a useful tool,
Major criticism Of theo dilution plate method arcs
(1), it gives a large advantaqfx to abundantly sporing species*
Warcup (1955a) demonstrated that the vast majority of colonies on
dilution platess arise from spores. The mycellum often rccains
embedded In organic material or soil fragments* and so tho numbers
of a particular species on a plate may not bear any resemblance to
its mycelial. development In the material being te3tede Both dilution
plates, and zoil; -plates give little Information on species present In
an active,, hyphal state at the time the Isolations are madeq although
Inferencen may be made regarding apedes, Which had previously been
active
(PArkinsan 1973)-ý Montegut (1960)9
174.
althougluagreeing that, If,
given- an advantage to1zeavily-sporulating species, considers it may