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Abstract
Lichens are slow-growing organisms supposed to synthetize specialized metabolites to protect themselves against diverse grazers. As predicted by the optimal defense theory (ODT), lichens are expected to invest specialized metabolites in higher levels in reproductive tissues compared to thallus. We investigated whether Laser Desorption Ionization coupled to Mass Spectrometry Imaging (LDI-MSI) could be a relevant tool for chemical ecology issues such as ODT. In the present study, this method was applied to cross-sections of thalli and reproductive tissues of the lichen Pseudocyphellaria crocata. Spatial mapping revealed phenolic families of metabolites. A quantification of these metabolites was carried out in addition to spatial imaging. By this method, accumulation of specialized metabolites was observed in both reproductive parts (apothecia and soralia) of P. crocata, but their nature depended on the lichen organs: apothecia concentrated norstictic acid, tenuiorin, and pulvinic acid derivatives, whereas soralia mainly contained tenuiorin and pulvinic acid. Stictic acid, tenuiorin and calycin, tested in no-choices feeding experiments, were deterrent for N. hookeri while entire thalli were consumed by the snail. To improve better knowledge in relationships between grazed and grazing organisms, LDI-MSI appears to be a complementary tool in ecological studies
Highlights
Lichens are symbiotic organisms that use sexual and vegetative reproductions
To know whether spatial distribution of specialized metabolites could serve as a proxy for predicting lichen defense, i.e. for evaluating the risk of predation by lichen grazers, we addressed two aims: (i) Identifying and mapping the molecules allocated to the reproductive parts of the lichen by LDI-Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI). (ii) Investigating whether snail gustatory responses match well with MSI of the metabolites
LDI-MSI appeared to be a complementary tool for lichen-lichenivores interactions studies. This technique could be interesting with others chemical ecology issues as photoprotection, allelopathy or antimicrobial activities
Summary
Lichens are symbiotic organisms that use sexual and vegetative reproductions. As lichens are slow-growing organisms, integrity of sexual structures (apothecia) and vegetative propagules (soredia, isidia) should be crucial to lichen fitness.Localization of specialized called secondary metabolites in an organism depends on their functional roles [1,2,3,4]. Lichens are symbiotic organisms that use sexual and vegetative reproductions. As lichens are slow-growing organisms, integrity of sexual structures (apothecia) and vegetative propagules (soredia, isidia) should be crucial to lichen fitness. Localization of specialized called secondary metabolites in an organism depends on their functional roles [1,2,3,4]. The optimal defense theory (ODT) defined by Mc Key postulates that specialized metabolites are primarily allocated to organism parts of high fitness value, high risk of predation, or both [5,6]. Young leaves are considered more valuable than old leaves and often possess the greatest concentrations of specialized metabolites [7].
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