Abstract:
Fungus-growing termites are obligate symbionts with basidiomyceteous fungi in the genus Termitomyces. They cultivate Termitomyces mycelia on substrates known as fungus garden. The relationship between them remains to be studied. This work was done in order to determine fungal communities in the fungus gardens, termite guts, mound soil and soil is about 10 metres from the mound by using the Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) method. Culturable fungal communities of fungus gardens were done by using Dilution plating method. Fungus gardens and termite guts morphology were observed by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Fungus gardens were collected by digging out from underground soil in Nakornpathom and Ratchaburi Province. Termites were later identified as Macrotermes sp.1. Molecular result showed that fungus gardens were dominated by Termitomyces associated with some other fungi. These fungi closely matched Tylophilus leucomycelinus, Glomus intraradices and Scutellospora pellucida in Nakorn- Pathom specimens. There were some fungi closely matched Agaricaceae sp. ecv3807, Tylopilus leucomycelinus voucher 18463, Scutellospora pellucida, uncultured ectomycorrhiza belonging to Basidiomycota group and uncultured soil fungus clone 317_0222 from Ratchaburi specimens. In addition, DGGE result showed Termitomyces band in fungus gardens which was also found from termite guts and there are the finding of the same dominant fungi in both area such as Tylophilus leucomycelinus and Scutellospora pellucida. Fungal communities analysis of both fungus gardens by using Dilution plating method found which dominated by Penicillium sp. in Nakornpathom specimens whereas Aspergillus sp. were dominated in Ratchaburi specimens. Scanning electron micrograph of primordia-like structures in termite guts. This evidence indicated that termite consumed primordia as food source with the molecular data supporting by Termitomyces presented in termite guts.