Summary
The substrate of newly constructedMacrotermes fungus combs is inoculated from the start with viableTermitomyces conidia (asexual spores) which guarantee fast proliferation of the symbiotic fungus. The substrate is vegetable matter which has passed rapidly through the intestine of the young workers which are comb-builders and nurses. These ingest the vegetable matter which has been collected by the foragers and also feed on the nutrient enriched nodules produced by the fungus. These nodules contain the adaptive gut-resistant conidia which are mixed with the intestinal substrate on this pathway.
Resume
ChezMacrotermes le substrat des meules à champignon nouvellement formées est inoculé dès le début par des conidies viables deTermitomyces (spores asexuées) qui garantissent la prolifération accélérée du champignon symbiotique. Le substrat est de la matière végétale ayant traversé rapidement l'intestin des jeunes ouvriers, c'est-à-dire les constructeurs de meules et les nourrices. Ces insectes ingèrent la matière végétale recueilie par les fourrageurs et se nourrissent aussi des mycotêtes nutritives produites par le champignon. Ces mycotêtes contiennent les conidies qui sont adaptées à résister au passage à travers l'intestin où elles se mélangent avec le substrat.
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Leuthold, R.H., Badertscher, S. & Imboden, H. The inoculation of newly formed fungus comb withTermitomyces inMacrotermes colonies (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae). Ins. Soc 36, 328–338 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224884
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224884