Responses of <I>Coptotermes formosanus</I> and <I>Reticulitermes flavipes</I> (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) to Three Types of Wood Rot Fungi Cultured on Different Substrates

Abstract

This study examined the responses of two termite species, the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, and the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), to three types of wood decay fungi: a brown rot fungus, Gloeophyllum trabeum (Persoon: Fries) Murrill; a white rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium Burdsall; and a litter rot fungus, Marasmiellus troyanus (Murrill) Singer. We also examined the responses of termites to these three types of fungi grown on different substrates. For all three fungal species, both termite species showed a strong preference for fungus-infected sawdust over uninfected sawdust. In choice tests, both termite species preferred sawdust infected with either M. troyanus or P. chrysosporium over G. trabeum. However, termites did not show any preference for fungus-infected potato dextrose agar over uninfected potato dextrose agar. Tunneling activity of C. formosanus was greater in sand treated with methanol extracts of fungus-infected sawdust than in sand treated with extracts of uninfected sawdust. Because chemicals in the fungal extracts caused termites to tunnel further into treated sand than untreated sand, these chemicals could potentially be used to direct termite foraging toward bait stations in the field.

Fungal wood decomposer activities influence community structures of myxomycetes and bryophytes on coarse woody debris

“…Such dead wood properties have been classified into different decay types, such as white, brown, and soft rots according to the lignocellulosedecomposition capabilities of various fungal species. In addition, because the decomposition of lignocellulose is a key determinant of humus formation on the forest floor (Stevenson, 1982), decay types have marked effects on the species composition of detritus-dwelling organisms, such as bacteria (Jurgensen et al 1989;Folman et al 2008;Hoppe et al 2014), fungi (Tedersoo et al 2008;Lindner et al 2011), invertebrates (Araya, 1993;Cornelius et al 2002;Wardlaw et al 2009), and plants that grow above the detritus communities (Ba ce et al 2012;Fukasawa, 2012). Such effects could be recognized as indirect effects of fungi on detritus communities and plants, mediated by environmental changes in CWD.…”

Effects of wood decomposer fungi on tree seedling establishment on coarse woody debris

“…Wood decomposition by fungi is classified into different decay types such as white-rot, brown-rot, and soft-rot, which indicate lignocellulose decomposition capabilities of the different fungal species (Eaton and Hale, 1993). Because decomposition of lignocellulose is a key factor controlling soil humus formation on the forest floor (Stevenson, 1982), decay type has significant effects on species composition of organisms in soil detritus-based food webs such as bacteria (Folman et al, 2008;Jergensen et al, 1989), ectomycorrhizal fungi (Tedersoo et al, 2008), termites (Cornelius et al, 2002), and beetle larvae (Araya, 1993;Wardlaw et al, 2009) that inhabit dead wood. Wood chemical properties including pH and organic content may control communities of organisms in woody debris (Jergensen et al, 1989).…”

Identification and substrate utilisation of fungi associated with low country live wood termite, Glyptotermes dilatatus Bugnion & Popoff and the host plant, Camellia sinensis L.O. Kuntze

“…Smythe et al (1967) have reported that termites are attracted to decayed wood by wood decaying fungi, and many termite species also ingest excessive amounts of decayed wood than wood that is not decayed. Fungi associated with cellulolytic decay play an important role in termite nutrition and orientation to food materials (Cornelious et al, 2002), as the fungi can modify the texture of the wood to favour termite feeding and detoxify the toxic compounds present in plants (Beard, 1974;Jayasimha, 2006). Zoberi and Grace (1990) have reported the isolation of forty species of cellulolytic and pathogenic fungi associated with Reticulitermes flavifes (Koller).…”

“…A hypothesis formulated in the current investigation was that the biodiversity observed within and among the fungi assemblages could be correlated with the attraction of G. dilatatus to decayed stem. Hence the present study was initiated as a survey of fungi associated with termite infested decayed stems of the tea cultivar TRI 4042, living termites and termite galleries, as fungi play a positive role in wood decay and orientation of termites (Cornelious et al, 2002). The study was further extended to utilisation of carbon sources by selected fungal species, to investigate the ability of substrate utilisation and evaluate the ability to decompose structural and storage components in vitro using pure substrates.…”