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Investigation of Physicochemical Indices and Microbial Communities in Termite Fungus-Combs

Summary

This research investigated the complex relationship between termites and mushrooms that grow in their nests. Scientists analyzed the chemical and microbial properties of termite fungus combs to better understand how these mushrooms grow naturally, since they cannot be cultivated artificially yet. The findings help explain the unique conditions needed for these nutritious and medicinally valuable mushrooms to thrive. Impacts on everyday life: – Provides insights that could lead to cultivation methods for valuable edible mushrooms – Advances understanding of natural antibiotics and defensive compounds produced by these systems – Demonstrates how studying nature’s partnerships can reveal new ways to produce food and medicine – Helps explain how termites farm their own food through fungal cultivation – Could inspire new approaches to sustainable agriculture based on natural symbiotic relationships

Background

Termitomyces species are wild edible mushrooms with high nutritional value and medicinal properties that grow in symbiotic association with termites. Their cultivation is very difficult due to this obligate symbiotic relationship with fungus-growing termites. Understanding the physicochemical and microbial characteristics of termite fungus combs is important for potentially cultivating these valuable mushrooms.

Objective

To examine and compare the differences in physicochemical indices and microbial communities between termite fungus combs with Termitomyces basidiomes (CF) and combs without Termitomyces basidiomes (CNF).

Results

Humidity, pH, and elements (Al, Ba, Fe, Mn, Ni, S, Ca, Mg) were higher in CF compared to CNF. Amino acids, particularly alanine, tyrosine, and isoleucine, were lower in CF. Fatty acid contents were not significantly different between the two comb types. The bacterial genera Alistipes, Burkholderia, Sediminibacterium, and Thermus dominated all combs, while Brevibacterium, Brevundimonas, and Sediminibacterium were significantly more abundant in CF. Basidiomycota and Ascomycota fungi were identified, with Termitomyces species being dominant.

Conclusion

The study revealed significant differences in physicochemical properties and microbial communities between fungus combs with and without Termitomyces basidiomes. The findings suggest that certain bacteria may play important roles in creating suitable growth conditions for Termitomyces by maintaining C/N balance or inhibiting infectious microbes. Individual combs were found to contain only single species of Termitomyces.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Comparative Analysis,
  • Source: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.581219
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