ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

enz, yme production are affected by the c6acentrations of the substances
present in the gutj for examples cellulose activity being Induced by
the presence of cellulose or calloblosea Further evidence that the
presence of living Termltgpyces to required In cellulose digestion van
given by Sands (1956) who showed that Odont(itermes badium supplied
with colltilosic materials only or with sterilized fungus ccmb survived
tu) " loýnger than when starved, If supplied with fungus comb with li'ving
A
mycotetei they survived lonw* In contrast to those ilacrotermltl=6
with TermitoMmes Sphaerotermem spimerothorax has a cellulolytic flora
similar to that in the rumen of cattle (La rage' and fluttino 1978)o
The study of the lIgnin and cellulose content of fungus comb does
not appear to throw much light an the precise role of Tenm1t=ccjj in
cellulose decomposition* Apart frca nohrmann (1973)
339o
j most authors have
not distinguished between newly depopited fungus, comb and comb on which
TermitomXSPshaz been working for Occe times mAking It Impossible to
assess the changes In composition c6used. by the I activity of Tern'itow-ypen
(Table 7-4-2)- 14th 'the exceptIca I of Nkcrater, ýV4
Douglas 1970) the porcentago - of I licnin iii
-
Lalfath, (Ck: ellk and'
t: he"cb6b in lower than that
of the toruites tiotential foýd ýna In both Wcrotitrmem iýatalensis
Macroter-mes uýuzilthe perc'eniigo of "119nin'fails frc'm, ý6ish to old
ýomb (Pohma
nn 1978) show i ng, the
s,..
actl' on of TermitomXcese
.I -* wn, "".
-
11 11ýýI
_The altuation, with cellulose In more complex, In the comb It
appears at the saw levels. as could occur In
-, woody materials but no
direct ýýmparirjons are available* The percentage of cellulose appears
to Increase from fresh to old comb due to the conversion of lignin Into
fungal, tissue. (]R? hrmann 1978)o The, licnin to cellulose ratio. of newly
emetructed Nacrotermen ukUzii Cmb im eiwilar to that of tho stma wId
wd