ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

Discussion
Two different methods of Isolation were used to Olve a wider range
of fungi isolated. All methods are selective and so different fungi
may be obtained by the two methods* For example Termitomycen, is the
most comron fungus Isolated from the fungus comb by the direct Isolation
method, whereas it does not appear in the dilution plate method
5,2*9)o TermitpMycpq Is present as wycelium: actively growing In the
comb and so when small pieces of comb are placed on the plate the
(Table
mycelium can actively grow out from the innoculation, The fungi growing
on dilution plates generally arise from spores, the mycelial fragwnto
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tending to adhere to lumps of material and to float or sediment out more
rapidly depending on the material* This could account for the non-
isolation of Temit=yceq and also Xylaria, by the dilution plate Methods
an XXIarin has been reported as actively growing in the fungus combl its
cjycelium being mixed with that of TprmitomXces (Grasso' 1937)- XYIftria
was isolated by the direct Isolation method from the older coob material, *
TermitcoXces would also be selected against in the dilution plate method
as It to slow growing and would be rapidly covered by other fungi present
on the plate.
The fungi obtained by plating ou t the foodstore (Table 5*2,6) are
species commonly isolated from the soil In the Mokwa region (14CDonald
19681,1970), Trichodema shows a higher frequency than Its Presence in
the local soils might lead one to expectj it being of very infrequent
, Occurrence In the soil
(IScDonald 1970). These fungi are probably
brought Into the foodstoro as spores by the termites, both mixed with
the collected food that will constitute the foodatorot and also adhering
to the terziten bodies,, having been picked up from the 3011 and vegetation
while the termites were foraging&