Abstract
Some of the enzymes found in the gut contents of endogeic geophagous earthworms are produced by ingested microflora. This study compares the origin and activities of glucosidic enzymes present in the gut contents of adult Polypheretima elongata from Sainte Anne (Martinique), Pontoscolex corethrurus from Palma Sola, Veracruz (Mexico) and Millsonia anomala from Lamto (Côte d'Ivoire). Substrates characteristic of plant material were used to compare enzymatic capabilities of gut contents and isolated gut tissues. All substrates tested were digested which indicates that all three species may use root and fungal substrates available in soils. In vitro tissue culture of P. elongata produced all the glucosidic enzymes unlike cultures of the other two species which required microbial activity to synthetize mannanase and cellulase; moreover, glucosidic activities measured in P. elongata were higher than those found in P. corethrurus and M. anomala.
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