ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

The reaction of tho Ii. bellicosus out Vouid Indicate the presenco
of e xtra-cellular Volyphenol oxidases, The intemity of the reaction
of the conidial agglomerations In culture indicates that these poly-
phenol oxidases may well be obtained from the mycottten. In Micro-
termes, guta no polyphenol oxidanes were present, though of course the
guts are very much smaller than those of M* bellicosus. Vohrwann and
Possman (1980) found that Termitgaces from Macroternes Wýwzii
produced lignin decomposing enzymes.
It therefore appý6'arn that one of the functions of Termitc, ces', Is
ny _
to broik do%M the lignin present In the food of the termites. It
appears that Torýdtonr fcc s enables the Macroternitinae to utilize 'o a und
wood'that might'Ahervise be unassimilable, by then and it to interesting
that, SrhArrotermok which has sterile combs with no Termitomyces feeds
on r6tttno wood.
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