Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Extracting DNA from the Gut Microbes of the Termite (Zootermopsis Angusticollis) and Visualizing Gut Microbes
Published on: May 28, 2007
Molecular diversity and host specificity of termite-associated Xylaria
Herbert J Guedegbe1, Edouard Miambi, Anne Pando
1UMR IRD 137 BioSol, Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Sols Tropicaux, Institut de Recherches pour le Développement, Bondy, France.
Abstract:
Studies have revealed that some Xylaria species were closely associated with fungus-growing termite nests. However this relationship rarely had been investigated and the host specificity of termite-associated Xylaria was not yet clearly established. Eighteen Xylaria rDNA-ITS sequences were obtained from fungus combs belonging to 11 Macrotermitinae species from eight regions. Low diversity was found between isolates, and nine sequences were retrieved. Termite-associated Xylaria were shown to be monophyletic, with three main clades, all including strains from various termite hosts and geographical localities. This new molecular study shows no species specificity with respect to fungus-growing termites, which suggests that there might be substrate specialization.
Related Concept Videos
Fungal Group Zygomycota
Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota
Overview of Fungi
Applications of Molecular Taxonomy
Diversity of Archaea IV

