CYTOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE AGARIC Termitomycetes striatus (Heim) FOUND GROWING WILD IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, AND ITS ENVIRONS

Cytological behavior in Termitomyces striatus was studied. Samples of the mushrooms were collected and were identified using a mushroom field guide. The samples were preserved in FAA for future used. The samples were ran through anatomical processes in the department of Vetenary medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and microscopic analysis was done. The photomicrographs of the results showed that Termitomycete striatus is an aseptate mushroom without a cross wall structure in the hyphae. The two taxa of basidiomycetes; Ustomycetes and the true basidiomycetes were based on the differences in their septal ultra structure and life cycle. Formal classification of the fungi into Heterobasidiomycetes and Homobasidiomycetes is shown in Plate 3. In modern taxonomy, homobasidiomycetes roughly corresponds to the monophylectic class Agaricomyetes. T. striatus is placed in the family Tricholomataceae due to complete absence of clamp connections as indicated in Plates 1- 2, & 4.