ACTINOMYCETES IN THE INTESTINAL-TRACT OF SOIL INVERTEBRATES FED WITH VERMICOMPOST OR LITTER

The dynamics of the population density and taxonomic composition of ac tinomycetes were studied by the spread-plate method and luminescence m icroscopy in the feed, intestinal tract, and excrement of the earthwor m Eisenia foetida and the millipede Pachyiulus flavipes fed with vermi compost and litter. It was shown that, in the intestinal tract of eart hworms fed with vermicompost, actinomycetes are partly digested, and t he rest are activated and accumulate in the excrement, where 55.8% of the actinomycete complex is represented by micromonosporas. During pas sage through the intestinal tract of millipedes fed with litter, actin omycetes accumulate in the hindgut, suggesting their possible particip ation in the utilization of chitin of the peritrophic membrane.