1887

Abstract

Cellulolytic activity of the termite flagellate was demonstrated and Homogenates of axenically-cultivated flagellates hydrolysed carboxy-methylcellulose enzymically indicating that does not depend on living extracellular or endosymbiotic bacteria for cellulose digestion. Cellulolytic activity of the flagellate was also determined by comparing the longevities of defaunated termites () refaunated by feeding with either or with heat-killed flagellates. The termites refaunated with greatly outlived members of the other group, supporting the view that cellulose digestion by the intestinal flagellate is responsible for the nutrition of termites.

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/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-113-2-417
1979-08-01
2024-04-24
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