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Carbohydrases in the alimentary canal of Amitermes evuncifer Silvestri (Isoptera: Termitidae: Termitinae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

S. L. O. Malaka
S. L. O. Malaka
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria
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Abstract

Amylase, sucrase and cellulase were detected in the alimentary canals of workers and soldiers of Amitermes evuncifer Silvestri, but only sucrase and cellulase were found in the alimentary canal of the alates. Enzyme activities varied in different parts of the alimentary canal. That high enzyme activities were observed in the guts of the workers (than those of the soldiers) is due to the fact that the workers forage for food which they digest partially before feeding other members of the colony through trophallaxis. The presence of enzymes in the alimentary canals of alates and soldiers indicates that the partially digested food, from the workers, undergoes further digestion in their systems.

Résumé

On à decouvert dans le tube digestif des ouvriers at des soldats du genre Amitermes evuncifer Silvestri l'amylase, la sucrase et la cellulase; toutefois on n'a trouve que la sucrase et la cellulase dans les organes des ailés. Des effets de diastase se sont constates per différents endroits du tube digestif. Une forte proportion de sucrase et de cellulase par example a été constatée en plein milieu du boyau de l'ouvrier.

Qu'on à pu decouvrir des effets de diastase plus prononces dans le boyau des ouvriers qui'il n'en est chéz les soldats s'explique par le fait que les ouvriers fourragent l'aliment qui'il digerent en partie avant de nourrir d'autress membres de la colonie par trophallaxie. La presence de diastases dans le tube digestif des ailes et des soldats indique que l'aliment partiellement digère par les ouvriers est sounis a nouveau a la digestion dans leur système.

Keywords

Amitermes evunciferamylasesucrasecelluloseenzymeworkersoldieralimentary canal
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 7 , Issue 5 , October 1986 , pp. 683 - 685
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1986

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