Investigation into how Odontotermes obesus maintains a predominantly Termitomyces monoculture in their fungus combs suggests a potential partnership with both fungi and bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Fungus-growing termites, like Odontotermes obesus, cultivate Termitomyces as their sole food source on fungus combs which are continuously maintained with foraged plant materials. This necessary augmentation also increases the threat of introducing non-specific fungi capable of displacing Termitomyces. The magnitude of this threat and how termites prevent the invasion of such fungi remain largely unknown. This study identifies these non-specific fungi by establishing the pan-mycobiota of O. obesus from the fungus comb and termite castes. Furthermore, to maximize the identification of such fungi, the mycobiota of the decaying stages of the unattended fungus comb were also assessed. The simultaneous assessment of the microbiota and the mycobiota of these stages identified possible interactio

SUBMITTER: Agarwal R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11330501 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature