Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali Mohali, Punjab, India
Background/Question/Methods
Fungus-growing termites grow monoculture of a fungus Termitomyces on a specialized structure called fungus comb. When worker termites do not tend these fungus combs, Pseudoxylaria takes over the comb. Both these fungi are solely associated with the nest of fungus-growing termites. However, the other fungal contaminants introduced in the colony by termite foragers remain suppressed in an active colony. Previous evidence suggests the role of Termitomyces in inhibiting such fungal contaminants. Here we hypothesize the role of Termitomyces as well as Pseudoxylaria in the prevention of other fungi.
Results/Conclusions
We identified the different fungal contaminants present in the colony of a fungus-growing termite, Odontotermesobesus using culture dependent and independent approaches. To investigate the roles of these specialized fungi in the symbiosis, the anti-fungal activity of Termitomyces and Pseudoxylaria against the fungal contaminants was tested. We performed in vitro interactions and found that both Termitomyces and Pseudoxylaria can outcompete many fungal contaminants. We also confirmed the inhibitory activity of eight bacterial mutualists against fungal contaminants in vitro. Moreover, Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) gene, using the Nanopore platform, revealed the presence of fungi other than Termitomyces in the colony of Odontotermesobesus.
