ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

Discussion
In comparing Tables 5-2*6 and 5*2*11 It can be seen ttiat the
selective medium has greatly increased the probability of isolating
Tormitonnes. Proin fresh comb the isolatien index increases from 39
to 72, and from older comb from 41 to 89. The contamination from other
fungi and bacteria Is very low, and plates were obtained on which nothing
Crew from the material placed on them. This indicates that the presence
of Tormit = cen in material placed on this medium would not be masked
by the growth of other organisms. The conclusion may be drawn therefore
that Termit =. cealis not prevent in the foodstore. On both media the
isolation Index of Termitomyces from freshly deposited comb is lower
than from older comb indicating that the Termitomyces may be colonizing
the freshly deposited material by growing In from the older combo
The results of the dilution plate experiment again show that
Termitomycog is not present In the foodstore or in the nest structures
(the earthen supports which ramify between and around the outside of
the fungus comb)j and to confined to the fungus comb within the nest
system& The numbers of TerMtjg=e9 colonies obtained from the three
zones of the fungus comb confirm Its original visual divisions LOW
numbers of Ternit2Liyces colonies were obtained from the fresh edge$ and
also the older comb* Separating these two zones in the middle zone of
the comb where TemitooXcen. can be seen as being present due to the
large numbers of mycotetes which are found In this zone.
203.
This experiment was also carried out at 10-3 dilution and again no
TermitomXces was obtained from the foodstore, and nest structures
Although the selective modium greatly reduces the numbers of fungis
other than Termitomyces, Isolateds some other specien were obtained on