TY - JOUR
T1 - A food factory strictly managed by fungus-growing termites
AU - Cha, Joo Young
AU - Wirawan, I. G.P.
AU - Tamai, Yutaka
AU - Lee, Si Young
AU - Chun, Kun Woo
AU - Lee, Sang Yong
AU - Ohga, Shoji
PY - 2010/2/1
Y1 - 2010/2/1
N2 - In this study, we analyzed fungus gardens of Odontotermes feae (Wasmann), which are associated with Termitomyces eurhizus (Berk.) R. Heim, and of Ancistrotermes pakistanicus Ahmad, which are associated with T. striatus (Beeli) R. Heim, to examine the ecological effects of termite use on primordium and fruiting-body formation Our results indicate that the symbiotic termites strictly managed those fungus gardens that developed fruiting bodies We also found that the termites prevented fruiting-body formation in fungus gardens of O. feae associated with T. eurhizus by eating the blackish tips of the primordia just prior to fruiting-body development Ancistrotermes pakistanicus, however, did not eat the growing primordia of T. striatus. Instead, the primordia became fruiting bodies, the pseudorhizae of which were used along with the fungus garden as food for the termites Moreover, our results revealed that Termitomyces developed fruiting bodies in the fungus gardens after the termites had deserted the nest. In conclusion, although the behavior between O. feae and A pakistanicus toward fungus combs differs, their common goal is to maintain mycelial masses, including woody debris as a food resource.
AB - In this study, we analyzed fungus gardens of Odontotermes feae (Wasmann), which are associated with Termitomyces eurhizus (Berk.) R. Heim, and of Ancistrotermes pakistanicus Ahmad, which are associated with T. striatus (Beeli) R. Heim, to examine the ecological effects of termite use on primordium and fruiting-body formation Our results indicate that the symbiotic termites strictly managed those fungus gardens that developed fruiting bodies We also found that the termites prevented fruiting-body formation in fungus gardens of O. feae associated with T. eurhizus by eating the blackish tips of the primordia just prior to fruiting-body development Ancistrotermes pakistanicus, however, did not eat the growing primordia of T. striatus. Instead, the primordia became fruiting bodies, the pseudorhizae of which were used along with the fungus garden as food for the termites Moreover, our results revealed that Termitomyces developed fruiting bodies in the fungus gardens after the termites had deserted the nest. In conclusion, although the behavior between O. feae and A pakistanicus toward fungus combs differs, their common goal is to maintain mycelial masses, including woody debris as a food resource.
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M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77950283252
VL - 55
SP - 11
EP - 14
JO - Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University
JF - Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University
SN - 0023-6152
IS - 1
ER -