Termitomyces, the termite mushrooms, is a genus of basidiomycete fungi belonging to the family Lyophyllaceae.[3] All of which are completely dependent on fungus-growing termites, the Macrotermitinae, to survive, and vice versa.[4] They are the food source for these termites, who enjoy an obligate symbiosis with the genus[5] similar to that between Atta ants and Attamyces mushrooms. Termitomyces mushrooms are edible, and are highly regarded for their flavor.[6]
Characteristics
Termitomyces includes the largest edible mushroom in the world, Termitomyces titanicus of West Africa and Zambia, whose cap reaches 1 metre (3.28 ft) in diameter.[7] It also includes Termitomyces microcarpus that grows caps of a few centimeters in diameter.
These fungi grow on 'combs' which are formed from the termites' excreta, dominated by tough woody fragments. Termitomyces was described by Roger Heim in 1942.[8]
From 1955 to 1969 Arthur French [9] worked in Uganda (as a hobby) on the subject of fungi and termites. Some scientific literature about these fungal species existed previously, but these texts failed to adequately discuss the relationship between termites and their fungal symbiotes, while the various edible varieties were merely termed "termite mushrooms." French conducted some investigations with the help of the elderly Baganda women who gathered termite mushrooms, and published his findings.
Life as a Termitomyces fungus
Some chamber(s) of the nest each contains a structure, called comb or fungus garden, where the fungus dwells.[10] The termites collect and chew up dead wood, leaf litter and other vegetable debris, depositing their primary faeces as new portions of the fungus garden.[11] The fungus grow through the comb. The termites eat spherules[note 1] and old combs.[12]
The fungus forms mushrooms for spreading spores. For most species, the fungus grows long pseudorhizas to the surface of the ground, where mushrooms are formed.[13] For T. microcarpus, the mushrooms grow from fragments of fungus garden that are carried outside the nest by worker termites.[14]
When a new termite colony is established, in most cases, the fungus is introduced through the activities of the termites collecting spores from the environment.[5]
Not a Termitomyces fungus; the actual taxonomic identity of this mushroom is unclear.[16]
Misnomer
Termitomyces albuminosus (Berk.) R.Heim (1941)
This name is commonly misused to refer to mushrooms of Termitomyces;[17][18] the original specimen of T. albuminosus was deemed to be of Macrolepiota and its species name became M. albuminosa.[19]
Other fungi associated with fungus-growing termites
Fungi of Pseudoxylaria, a subgenus of Xylaria, are found in fungus-growing termite combs.[20] Being weedy and controlled by fungus-growing termites,[21] they flourish when the termite nest is deteriorating or deserted.[20]
This genus is a popular wild seasonal delicacy in many places where it grows. One such place is the Indian state of Goa. For about two weeks at the beginning of August every year, clusters of villagers dot the Goan roadside hawking the handpicked mushrooms. A spicy gravy known as "Tonak" is a popular method of preparation. Since Termitomyces mushrooms are difficult to mass-produce, they command a high price.[23]
Mushroom sellers in Panjim Goa
They are also foraged in Malaysia known as cendawan busut ("mound mushroom"). Tamil rubber tappers in Selangor long time ago would find a lot of T. schimperi growing in estate environments not long after raining.[24]: 81
^Bellanger JM, Moreau PA, Corriol G, Bidaud A, Chalange R, Dudova Z, Richard F (2015). "Plunging hands into the mushroom jar: a phylogenetic framework for Lyophyllaceae (Agaricales, Basidiomycota)". Genetica. 143 (2): 169–94. doi:10.1007/s10709-015-9823-8. PMID25652231. S2CID254505216.
^Heim R. (1942). "Nouvelles études descriptives sur les agarics termitophiles d'Afrique tropicale". Archives du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (in French). 18 (6): 107–66.
^French A. (1993). "The Mushroom-Growing Termites of Uganda". Petits Propos Culinaires (44): 35–41.
^Hilton, Roger N.; Dhitaphichit, Pannee (1993). "Procedures in Thai Etnomycology". Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society. 41 (2): 75–92.
See Tobias Frøslev's Termitomyces page [1]
And an academic review of the relationship in Patterns of interaction specificity of fungus-growing termites and Termitomyces symbionts in South Africa Aanenet DK al BMC Evol Biol. 2007; 7: 115.
[2]
