ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

e active on an adjacent combo This abando=cnt of cctmbj3 supporting
fruiting has also been reported by Delms (pers*
and Petch (1906)o
commo)l Ileim (1977)
Termites eat the developing primordial as waa also observed by
Bela (pars. com. ), Ifeim (1977) and Petch (1913b). Ifeim has noted 3
forms of behaviour of the termitest (1) total tolerance with the
termites still on the comb,
(it) the termites eat the developing
basidlocarpst (iij) the termites cat the developing basidiocarps and
the fUngus combi but finds that generally the chambern from which the
basidiocarps grow are abandoned by the termites.
It is difficult'to determine whether an abandonment of tho fungus
comb, for whatever roaxong by the termites, leading to an unchecked
development of mycallum and a consequent exIlaustion of nutrients, leads
to busidlocarp productlcme or whather the development of basidimarps
leads to abando=ent of the fungtis cmb,
307o
(c) The abandor=ent of the comb by the termites may cause changes
in other factors affecting basidiocarp production. Tho temp4ýraturq
around the comb =y drop,, which may also occur with the onset of rains,
In general the temperature around fungus combs is more constant than
the surrounding environment from day to day but does vary with the
seasons
(Cheema et al* 1962t Collins 1977 and lZacher 1951a)* This In
more pronounced in m" tJuin In diffuse sýbterranean nests, The
temperature optimum for fruitbody production may vary from that for
vegetative growth eoge for fruitbody production of Armillaria nellea
the temperature required in 100C below the optimtzm for vegetative growth
(Ingold 1979). The fungus combs of the Macrotermitinne are generally
maintained around the optimum for vegetative Growth so a drop In