白蚁菌圃真菌多样性研究进展

Research advances of fungal diversity in combs of fungus-growing termites

白蚁菌圃存在于白蚁巢中,具有硬而脆的多孔结构,是特殊的真菌生存环境。当有白蚁在白蚁巢内活动时,蚁巢伞Termitomyces是菌圃上的优势菌;当白蚁巢被废弃,炭角菌Xylaria成为菌圃上的优势真菌。菌圃中还存在其他微生物如无性型真菌(anamorphic fungi)和酵母等。菌圃中的真菌很多具有潜在药用价值或其他经济价值。从蚁巢伞、炭角菌等主要真菌类群出发,结合分子生态学研究菌圃真菌多样性的方法,综述了白蚁菌圃真菌多样性的研究进展,揭示了目前的研究热点及存在的问题,并针对这些问题提出可能的发展方向。

Fungus-growing termites cultivate fungi on a substrate called ＇fungus comb＇ inside their nests. Fungus comb has rigid,friable and porous structure,which is considered as a unique fungus-living environment. When fungus-growing termites live in the nest,the mutualistic basidiomycete Termitomyces species are the dominant fungi on the comb; when the termite colony dies,or fungus comb is incubated without termites in the laboratory,fruiting bodies of the ascomycete genus Xylaria appear and rapidly cover the fungus comb. There are other microbes such as anamorphic fungi and yeasts living on the comb. Many of the fungi on the comb have great underlying medicinal and economic values which are worthy of studying. In this paper,the research advances in fungal diversity of the fungus comb are summarized based on several primary fungal groups like Termitomyces,Xylaria etc. Recent molecular ecology methods used to study the fungal community of the comb are discussed. Besides,the paper reveals current research hot issues and existing problems,as well as further possible solutions.