THE DIVERSITY OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEMS IN TROPICAL GEOPHAGOUS EARTHWORMS

Some of the enzymes found in the gut contents of endogeic geophagous e arthworms are produced by ingested microflora. This study compares the origin and activities of glucosidic enzymes present in the gut Conten ts of adult Polypheretima elongata from Sainte Anne (Martinique), Pont oscolex corethrurus from Palma Sola, Veracruz (Mexico) and Millsonia a nomala from Lamto (Cote d'Ivoire). Substrates characteristic of plant material were used to compare enzymatic capabilities of gut contents a nd isolated gut tissues. AU substrates tested were digested which indi cates that all three species may use root and fungal substrates availa ble in soils, In vitro tissue culture of P. elongata produced all the glucosidic enzymes unlike cultures of the other two species which requ ired microbial activity to synthetize mannanase and cellulase; moreove r, glucosidic activities measured in P. elongata were higher than thos e found in P, corethrurus and M, anomala. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B. V.