Summary
Termites depend for cellulose digestion on cellulases produced by their symbionts (intraintestinal flagellates and bacteria). In this paper a new source of cellulase used by Macrotermitinae is described: ingested conidiophores of the symbiotic fungus Termitomyces.
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I thank Proff. M. Lüscher and T.R. Odhiambo for their help and advice, and Drs J. Clearwater, D. Denlinger and F. Shaker for critically reading the manuscript.
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Abo-Khatwa, N. Cellulase of fungus-growing termites: A new hypothesis on its origin. Experientia 34, 559–560 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01936956
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01936956