Lichenicolous Research Articles

New Records of Lichenicolous Fungi Inhabiting Cladonia from India

New Records of Lichenicolous Fungi Inhabiting Cladonia from India

Дополнение к лихенобиоте о. Парамушир (Северные Курильские острова, Российский Дальний Восток)

The paper provides data on 143 species, one subspecies, and one variety of lichens, 13 species of lichenicolous fungi and one species of non-lichenized saprobic fungus from Paramushir Island. One hundred thirty-eight taxa are reported for this territory for the first time. Of them, Lecanora confusa is reported for the first time for Russia, eight species are new to the Russian Far East, 36 species and one variety are new to the Sakhalin Region, 20 species are listed for the first time for the Kuril Islands, and 72 species for Paramushir Island. Substrates and coordinates of collection sites are given for all species. The nearest known localities are given for species first found in the Kuril Islands, the Sakhalin Region or the Russian Far East.

Checklist of Basidiomycota and New Records from the Azores Archipelago

This paper presents an annotated checklist of the Basidiomycota taxa (including lichenicolous fungi and the subdivision Pucciniomycotina) from the Azores archipelago and reviews the published records to account for their taxonomic status. The number of Basidiomycota species recorded in the Azores has increased considerably during the 20th century and now stands at 544 species. This study provides distribution data and includes changes in the nomenclature of the listed taxa. Sampling campaigns contributed to 116 new records of Basidiomycota for the Azores archipelago. In addition, there were new records for eight islands: 162 species found for the first time on São Miguel Island, 55 species new to Santa Maria Island, 33 species new to Flores Island, 15 species new to Terceira Island, 9 species new to Pico Island, 17 species new to São Jorge Island, 4 species new to Graciosa Island, and 2 species new to Corvo Island. The transformation of vegetation cover in the archipelago has been very drastic, and this is reflected in the presence of many foreign fungal species on the islands. From these data, we conclude that within Macaronesia, the diversity of Basidiomycota in the Azores is more similar to that in Madeira than in the Canary Islands.

Research Advances in Taxonomy, Phylogeny, Ecology, and Distribution of the Genus Cladophialophora

The genus Cladophialophora was established in 1980. Prior to this study, a total of 63 species had been validated and assigned to this genus. The members of Cladophialophora have been recognized as human pathogens that cause chromoblastomycosis and various other skin diseases. Beyond its pathogenic role, some members of this genus are associated with a range of lifestyles, as phytopathogens, endophytic fungi, saprobic fungi, rock-inhabiting fungi, and lichenicolous fungi. In this study, we present background information and recent research progress regarding the genus Cladophialophora by elucidating its taxonomic history, species diversity, classification outline, ecology, and geographical distribution. Additionally, the phylogenetic placement of the members of this genus has been updated based on multi-gene phylogenetic analyses. Moreover, the issues and perspectives in this genus are summarized. This article provides researchers with valuable information and increases the understanding of Cladophialophora, which will be useful for further research (taxonomy, phylogeny, distribution, diversity, ecological roles and medical fields) in this genus.

Contribution to the Study of Lichenicolous Fungi from Northwest Iberian Peninsula (León and Lugo Provinces).

We have found 117 taxa of lichenicolous fungi in the studied area. In this paper, we describe five taxa: Arthonia boomiana on Nephromopsis chlorophylla, Lawalreea burgaziana on Platismatia glauca, Pronectria scrobiculatae on Lobarina scrobiculata, Trichonectria parmeliellae on Parmeliella testacea and Trichonectria rubefaciens ssp. cryptoramalinae on Ramalina. Furthermore, the next records are interesting chorologically from the Iberian Peninsula: Arthophacopsis parmeliarum, Catillaria lobariicola, Lichenopuccinia poeltii, Myxotrichum bicolor, Nanostictis christiansenii, Niesslia lobariae, Opegrpaha sphaerophoricola, Pronectria fragmospora, Rhymbocarpus aggregatus, R. neglectus, and Tremella cetrariicola.

Lithuanian lichens and lichenicolous fungi in the herbaria of the University of Tartu (Estonia) and the University of Latvia

Herbarium collections are particularly significant in countries where systematic studies of specific taxonomic groups have not been carried out, such as in the case of lichens in Lithuania. Collections prior to the 1990s are scarce, so all historical material is of great value. This paper presents the results of a study of lichen collections in the herbaria of the University of Tartu (TU) and the University of Latvia (RIG). A total of 425 herbarium envelopes (84 RIG and 341 TU) were examined. A total of 170 species were identified, including 157 lichen species, 12 lichenicolous and one non-lichenized saprobic fungi species. Nine lichen species were identified from envelopes that did not indicate the exact location except for the country (Lithuania). Two lichenicolous fungi, Endococcus nanellus and Stigmidium lecidellae, are new records for the country.

A remarkable and widespread new lichenicolous species of Mycocalicium (Sphinctrinaceae) producing campylidia-like conidiomata and appendiculate conidia

A lichenicolous fungus forming large black, vertically elongate, campylidia-like conidiomata on the thallus of Ochrolechia was recently collected in Austria, Mexico and the USA. The conidia are so remarkable in being multiappendiculate that initially no existing fungal genera appeared to be suitable for its description. Nevertheless, molecular phylogenetic analyses of nuITS and nuLSU sequences recovered the species within the genus Mycocalicium. To date, no species of Mycocaliciales has been reported producing appendiculate conidia. The species is described as new M. campylidiophorum. The new species was also discovered in the type specimen of Opegrapha chionographa that was collected in Colombia 163 years ago. This discovery led us to revise O. chionographa, originally described as a lichen, and clarify that in fact the name applies to a lichenicolous fungus based on type material that is an admixture of M. campylidiophorum, an Ochrolechia and an Opegrapha species. The name is shown to apply to the Opegrapha species and lectotypified as such. Opegrapha blakii is treated as synonym of O. chionographa.

On a lichen collection from the summit of Glittertinden (Norway, Oppland / Innlandet) – base line data for a high mountain top

A set of 44 taxa of lichenized fungi and 5 species of lichenicolous fungi was gathered in 1984 in the summit area of the mountain Glittertinden, the second highest mountain in Scandinavia. The sampled species include several high alpine taxa known as members of well-established alpine lichen communities but only few pioneer species indicating that the investigated rocks had already been ice-free for a long time. The local flora is compared to that reported from Scandinavia’s highest mountain, Galdhøpiggen, by the late Gunnar Degelius in the 1940s. With the continuing melting of the local ice cap on the summit of Glittertinden, biota will face profoundly changed environmental conditions with much additional substrate ready to be colonized in the near future.

The lichenized and lichenicolous fungi of Afghanistan

The study is based on a comprehensive evaluation of 87 publications concerning reports from Afghanistan and a critical revision of herbarium specimens. Two hundred and thirty eight taxa (230 species with 8 varieties) of lichenized fungi, and 16 species of lichenicolous fungi are listed with their citations or localities in the case of new records for the country or for provinces. New for Afghanistan are Acarospora bicolor, A. interrupta, Caloplaca monacensis, C. stillicidiorum var. muscorum, Collema furfuraceum, Endocarpon pusillum, Gloeoheppia turgida, Gyalolechia bracteata, Heteroplacidium fusculum, Lecanora horiza, Lecidea laboriosa, Melanohalea elegantula, Myriolecis semipallida, Peltula bolanderi, P. obscurans var. obscurans, P. obscurans var. deserticola, P. polyspora, P. radicata, Physconia americana, P. perisidiosa, Phaeophyscia hirsuta, Placidium pilosellum, P. rufescens, Sarcogyne praetermissa, S. pusilla, S. urceolata, Scytinium fragrans, Staurothele areolata, Umbilicaria virginis, Xalocoa ocellata, Xanthoparmelia neodelisei, and the lichenicolous fungus Acarospora subfuscescens.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LICHEN FLORA OF THE TULA REGION

The article presents the results of field studies in 2021–2022 and revision of the lichenological collection of A.V. Gudovicheva collected in the period from 2000 to 2021. The list of lichen flora of the Tula Region is supplemented with 34 taxa: 28 lichens, 2 allied saprotrophic fungi, and 4 lichenicolous fungi. Cladonia conista, Lecanora sarcopidoides, Lichenodiplis lichenicola, Marchandiomyces corallinus and Pyrenodesmia chalybaea are listed for the first time for the territory of  Central Russia (within the Central Federal District). Bactrospora dryina, Chaenotheca hispidula, Cladonia parasitica and Cresponea chloroconia, as indicators of old-growth intact forest communities, are recommended to be included in the list of rare and vulnerable lichen species. The populations of these species need constant monitoring and control in the Tula Region.

New additions to lichenicolous mycota of India

The current study documents the presence of twelve lichenicolous fungi from India that were previously unknown from the country. These fungi include Cercidospora solearispora, Endococcus verrucosus, Lichenopeltella leptogii, Lichenostigma dimelaenae, Polycoccum aksoyi, P. evae, P. kerneri, Rosellinula haplospora, Scutula milliaris, Sphaerellothecium parmotrematis and Stigmidium ramalinae. Moreover, this research reveals that Cladophialophora parmeliae has expanded its distributional range in India. These newly documented lichenicolous fungi provide valuable insights into the biodiversity and ecological dynamics of the Indian lichen flora, throwing light on previously unexplored aspects of fungal diversity in the region.

Knudsenia Flavoparmeliarum: A new Genus and Species of Lichenicolous Fungus Growing on Flavoparmelia Caperata and Flavopunctelia Flaventior (Parmeliaceae) from India

A new parasitic lichenicolous fungus Knudsenia, with the type species, K. flavoparmeliarum, growing on the thallus of the corticolous lichen Flavoparmelia caperata in subalpine and alpine regions of Central Himalaya (Uttarakhand, India) is described, illustrated, and compared with other morphologically similar lichenicolous fungi. It is characterised by having inconspicuous galls; stromatic ascomata with sterile brownish black to black tissue which is K+ majenta, N–, I–; hymenial gel K/I–; exciple evident; paraphyses simple to sparsely branched, apically not pigmented; asci bitunicate, elongate, clavate to subcylindrical with an indistinct ocular chamber with a very short stalk, 8-spored, K/I+ reddish brown; ascospores hyaline, spherical to ellipsoid at maturity, simple to rarely 1-pseudoseptate [(9.0–)9.5–10.5–11.5(–12.0) × (1.0–)1.2–1.5–2.0(–2.5) µm], I–, perispore absent. Since the species lacks molecular data, hence, it was tentatively placed in the family Planistromellaceae pending further studies.

The dark side of orange: Multiorganismic continuum dynamics within a lichen of the Atacama Desert

ABSTRACT Over the decades our understanding of lichens has shifted to the fact that they are multiorganismic, symbiotic microecosystems, with their complex interactions coming to the fore due to recent advances in microbiomics. Here, we present a mutualistic-parasitic continuum dynamics scenario between an orange lichen and a lichenicolous fungus from the Atacama Desert leading to the decay of the lichen’s photobiont and leaving behind a black lichen thallus. Based on isolation, sequencing, and ecophysiological approaches including metabolic screenings of the symbionts, we depict consequences upon infection with the lichenicolous fungus. This spans from a loss of the lichen’s photosynthetic activity and an increased roughness of its surface to an inhibition of the parietin synthesis as a shared pathway between the photobiont and the mycobiont, including a shift of secondary metabolism products. This degree of relations has rarely been documented before, although lichenicolous fungi have been studied for over 200 years, adding an additional level to the view of interactions within lichens.

Lichenicolous fungi of southern Scandinavia with particular reference to those associated with Xanthoria calcicola s. lat.


 
 
 Lichenicolous fungi associated with Xanthoria calcicola s. lat. are studied in southernmost Scandinavia, i.e., Skåne, the southernmost province in Sweden and southern Denmark. Two species, Didymocyrtis slaptoensis and Pyrenochaeta xantho­ riae, are reported as new for the Nordic countries, whereas three species, Didymocyrtis cf. consimilis, Erythricium aurantiacum, and Illosporiopsis christiansenii are recorded for the first time from Skåne. New localities for rare lichenicolous fungi from southern Scandinavia and southernmost Denmark are also listed. Notes on the taxonomy and ecology of Telogalla olivieri and Pyrenochaeta xanthoriae are provided.
 
 

Additions to the biota of lichenicolous and lichenized fungi of Poland


 
 
 Two lichenicolous fungi, Ceratobasidium bulbillifaciens and Sclerococcum phaeophysciae, and one lichen, Xanthoria aureola, are reported for the first time from Poland. For each species, the descriptions with notes on similar species, habitat preferences and general distribution are provided.
 
 

Leprarioid lichens and associated lichenicolous fungi from the Commander Islands (Kamchatka Territory, Russia) including a new species Lepraria tiinae


 
 
 Here, we present new records of leprarioid lichens from the Commander Islands, including one species of Lithocalla and six species of Lepraria. Notably, we describe as new to science Lepraria tiinae, which is quite common in coastal biotopes of the archipelago. The main distinguishing phenotypic features of this new species include large granules of the thallus, a well-developed hypothallus, dark rhizohyphae, and the production of thiophanic acid, arthothelin, and dichlorolichexanthone. Additionally, three species of lichenicolous fungi or fungi associated with leprarioid lichens were found in the studied specimens, all of which are new to the Kamchatka Territory.
 
 

Новые находки лишайников и лихенофильных грибов с архипелага Земля Франца-Иосифа (Российская Арктика)

The study presents data on 24 species of lichens and seven species of lichenicolous fungi that are newly recorded in the Franz Josef Land Archipelago. Among these, Amandinea pelidna, Didymocyrtis bryonthae, and Sclerococcum parasiticum are new discoveries for European Russia, and another 12 species are newly documented for the Arkhangelsk Region. Thus, 301 species of lichens and 50 species of lichenicolous fungi are currently known for the Franz Josef Land Archipelago.

Скрытое биоразнообразие в гербарных коллекциях: опыт поиска лихенофильных грибов в гербариях лишайников

Lichen herbaria contain a large number of parasitic fungi accidentally collected along with lichens. Various aspects of searching for lichenicolous fungi in lichen herbaria are discussed. The productivity of such searches, including the discovery of species new to science, may be higher than when these fungi are searched in nature. In one day’s work, 20–25 specimens of lichenicolous fungi can be found in the herbarium, and 2–15 specimens can be found in field studies.

Новые сведения о лихенобиоте Корякии (Северная Камчатка, Россия)

Based on collections of Koryak geobotanical expeditions of the Komarov Botanical Institute, 23 species of lichens and four lichenicolous fungi are reported as new to Koryakia, nine of them are also new to Kamchatka. Ephebe hispidula, Lambiella impavida, Rhizocarpon simillimum, Rhizoplaca opiniconensis, and Vestergrenopsis isidiata are new to the Russian Far East. Altogether 529 species of lichens and allied fungi are currently known for Koryakia.

Дополнение к лихенобиоте острова Земля Принца Карла (архипелаг Шпицберген)

Sixty-one species of lichens and four lichenicolous fungi (Catillaria stereocaulorum, Cercidospora stereocaulorum, Endococcus macrosporus, E. propinquus) are reported for the first time for the Prins Karls Forland as a result of the study of lichens collected in 2016. Among them, Xylographa trunciseda is reported for the first time for Arctic, Rhizocarpon cinereonigrum is new to Svalbard. Differences from closely related species and distribution in the Arctic are discussed for the species, which are rare on the Svalbard. In total, 216 species of lichens and 4 lichenicolous fungi are currently known for the Prins Karls Forland.