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Cellulase of fungus-growing termites: A new hypothesis on its origin

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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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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30722, Nairobi, Kenya

    N. Abo-Khatwa

Authors
  1. N. Abo-Khatwa
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Additional information

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

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