ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

811 =MITOMYCES IN CULTURE
Termit=cp. s,. In culture Crew slower than the contamLit4ting Aingi
and the zelective, medi= was developed to enable It to be isolated
4nd cultured*
In order to maxinixe growth the optimum cultural conditions were
determined, Tho optirsum temperature for growth for all species was
290C, except for Termit2Ucejs associated with Hterotemes ap. A which
was, 3,20C. - This In very close to the mean aoil temperature at 30 cm
(10. aemo) of 29*60C over the 3 yqars of the fieldworke The response
to tmperature was not the same fqr different speciea pcwhaps reflecting
the different temperature ranaps likely to be ene-oUntered In the various
nests end hab#atse
. For example the culti4re Associated with Kicrotermes
bo-Mcnaus with a controlled ctound tf-vmperature was rar less tolerant of
higher temperatures than were cultures ansociAted with Hicrotermos
species which would experience, the changes In sqij temperature more
closely*
'The optimum pH for growth was around 5*2* This in higher than
the fungus comb pH which, ranges from. 4.1
- 4.6 (7- 2.2).
364-
ý Mýe optima were
broad and in most cases the pli uras altered during Grow'Ui by the metabolic
activity of, TermlLorgpesib
1.
Termitomycýs in' culture produced white to fawn colonies with a
felty to efflorescent surface* Cultural equivalents of natural
crfcot'f; "Ite. s were, formed more obviottaly an those culturex aufjociated with
the 1-kir.
raternex species. The cultures of TemitEE.! ycom ., Associated with
difformt. species Of AprMitea. could, no% ka separate4 oR appearAnco in
cuiture or apore size*,;, 131ekstosporo, oormLnation occurred readilyl with
from one to four Oycellal tilaments developing.