Phenols in reproductive and somatic structures of lichens: a case of optimal defence?

Abstract

Optimal defence theory (ODT) attempts to explain variation in plant secondary compounds between different species, different growth conditions and different parts of individual plants. The theory is widely applied to vascular plants and more recently also to seaweeds. Surprisingly, ODT has gained little attention as potential explanation on the distribution of lichen secondary metabolites. In the present study, we analysed intrathalline variation in total phenol content and phenol spectra between reproductive and somatic structures of three foliose lichens, Xanthoria parietina, Vulpicida pinastri and Hypogymnia physodes. The results showed that the concentration of phenolic compounds is higher in sorediate than in non‐sorediate lobe ends of V. pinastri and H. physodes as well as in apothecia of X. parietina compared to other parts of the thallus. These results were in accordance with ODT predicting higher allocation of phenols in structures that are most important for the fitness of an individual genet or ramet. This pattern was parallel in all species regardless whether the compounds originate from either acetate‐mevalonate or shikimic acid pathways. Moreover, both sexual (X. parietina apothecia) and asexual (soralia of V. pinastri and H. physodes) reproductive structures were higher in phenols compared to somatic tissue.