ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

on comparing the nutrient content of the Ancistrotermes cavithorax
fungug comb producing mycotete-ve with that producing paeudorhizas very
little difference can be seen apart from a decrease in the potassIUV3
contents The concentration of the carbon source In usually the most
Important In stimulating fruiting (Cochrane 1958) and it would seem
that the other minerals do not varyouch from the comb with tricotetes,
to that producing psoudorhiza* In general the trend Is the same an
that shown from middle to old fungus comb of
11acrotermes bellicosuag
the alight increases in percentage of nitrogen probably being due to
loss of carbon.
The ash content of Odontotermes fungus combs are higher than those
of Ancistrotermess Macrotermen end Weroterzes, speclegg probably
indicating that more soil Is Incorporated during their construction*
Comb of Macrotermex falciger also had a high ash content. The ash
content of fruitbodles in general ranges from 1.00
- 29-87% with most
having 5-10% (Cochrane 1958) within which TPrm1tnmXces. =-rfor4ftns falls*
other ash values for Ternit2=ces are from 6-14% (Mukilbi 1973)- The
ash content of the fungus combs in higher than the food which indicates
that not 1rauch of the mineral content could have been utilized on Its
passage through the termite out*
Other constituents In the fungus comb includo chlorophylll vitamins
A and Ct lipidal organic acidal phenolics, tannins and sterolas The
amounts of fatal oils and tannins are much lower In fungus combs than
In faecal matter and carton next material indicating Termitomyces, may
be utilizing some of theneo
362*