ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

Temlt2rm7ces, appears to be unusual in that most woodrotting 13asidicl-
trjcetes are able to utilize starch. It In probable that there in
little starch In the fungus comb it having been usdd by tho termites
but there Is little evidence for this*
None of the TeM. Itoayces cultures were able to utilize chitin
(Table 7*5*2), only a very little Growth occurred and no clearing
of chitin was observed. Enzymes capable or degrading chitin hava been
found In several species of termite (Table 7-5*3)- Chitin-would be,
present In the temite-fungus system from both the eating'of dead '
teruites and from the fungus Itself* Chitin contents from 2,4-26.2%
of dry weight of fungi have been found (Cochrane 19511). Rohrmann and
no, qsman (1980) found the mycot'dites of Vkcroterptes ukuxii were 2-1.7%
cliltint 38% protein, now comb was 0.6% chitin and old ccmb 1%, the
Increase Indicating Ter7mitoMes, has not broken thin down* It seeem
likely* therefore, that the site of chitinase production to the termite
out, This Is probably similar to the fungus growing ants where chitinaso
has been found in the ants faecal material (Marting Gloselmann and
Martin 1973)* The production of chitina a would obviously be of great
significance In termites eating mycotUtese
No polyoalactunonase enzymes were produced by any of the cultures
of Tern, 11=valfrom different termite gmcies, An important consequence
of pectic enzyme, activity Is the exposure of other substances In the
cell wall to enzyme action, In those species feeding on wood the
presence of pectinases would be loss Important than In those feeding
on herbaceous materials. RlcrOtOmOs luktalonsis has pectina3es (Martin
and Martin 1979)- In general Plant pAthogenLc fungi produce pectinases,
but many bacteria and saprophytic fungi do also, Production of pectic
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