Studies of lignin degradation in mound material of the termite Nasutitermes exitiosus

Abstract

Lignin degradation in the mound material of the enteric lignin degrading termite Nasutitermes exitiosus (Hill) was studied under normal and wet moisture conditions during incubation with C-14-(lignin)-Populus tremuloides Michx. There was negligible 14(CO2) evolution from mound material incubated for five weeks. However, adjacent soil when wet produced a 6.8% degradation of the 14C-(lignin)-lignocellulose.