Lichenicolous Taxa Research Articles

Remarkable cases of parallel evolution of the placodioid thallus growth form in theLecanographaceae(Arthoniales) with the description of a new species ofAlyxoriafrom Mexico

AbstractThe new speciesAlyxoria sierramadrensisis described from Mexico where it inhabits limestone rocks. The lichen developing from this fungus is characterized by a placodioid to subfoliose thallus with a white pruinose surface; rounded to shortly elongated ascomata with a black epruinose margin and a widely exposed, white pruinose hymenial disc; hyaline, 3-septate ascospores, 17–25 × 7–9 μm; the presence of anthraquinones rendering the medulla orange. Phylogenetic analyses of nuLSU, mtSSU andRPB2sequences place this species in the genusAlyxoria(Lecanographaceae). This generic affiliation is surprising because all knownAlyxoriaspecies have a crustose thallus.Lecanographaceaemainly includes species without a thallus (lichenicolous taxa) or with a thin crustose thallus, the only exception beingSimonyella variegatawith a fruticose thallus. The new species belongs to theAlyxoria ochrocheilasubgroup, which includes lichens also frequently known to have anthraquinones, white pruinose hymenial discs and 3-septate ascospores. Phylogenetic analyses further determined the systematic position of the monotypic genusPhoebus. This genus, considered as anArthonialesof uncertain family affiliation, is shown to belong to theLecanographaceae. With its placodioid thallus, it is another example of a lichenized fungus with a deviating morphology in thallus structure for the family, increasing the number of remarkable cases of parallel evolution of lichen growth forms within theArthoniales.Phoebus hydrophobiusis newly recorded for Mexico.

A new lichenicolous species of Toninia (Ramalinaceae) on Dermatocarpon in central North America

Toninia tecta, a non-lichenized obligately lichenicolous fungus, is described new to science. The species is known from several sites in midcontinental North America. Toninia tecta has an endokapylic thallus with dark superficial apothecia restricted to the sheltered undersides of thalli of saxicolous umbilicate species of Dermatocarpon. The new species is characterized by 3-septate ellipsoid ascospores, elongate filiform conidiospores, a reddish brown hypothecium and grey to greenish epithecium that reacts KOH–, HNO3 violet. Features of the species are compared with those of other lichenicolous taxa in the genus.

Taxonomic monograph of the genus Taeniolella s. lat. (Ascomycota).

A taxonomic monograph of the ascomycete genus Taeniolella (asexual dematiaceous hyphomycetes, sexual morphs unknown) is provided. Recent phylogenetic analyses demonstrated the polyphyly of this genus. The type species of Taeniolella pertains to the Kirschsteiniotheliaceae within Dothideomycetes, while other saprobic species clustered far away within Sordariomycetes, Savoryellaceae s. lat., and Lindgomycetaceae, whereas lichenicolous species belong to a monophyletic clade that represents the order Asterotexiales, but for most species assigned to Taeniolella sequence data and phylogenetic analyses are not yet available. The main focus of the present taxonomic study was on a revision of the lichenicolous Taeniolella species. Since the currently available phylogenetic analyses do not allow final taxonomic conclusions at generic rank, the exclusion of lichenicolous species from Taeniolella s. lat. has been postponed pending a broader sampling and more phylogenetic data of allied ascomycete genera within the order Asterotexiales. For the interim, Taeniolella s. lat., including lichenicolous and saprobic species, is maintained. The taxonomic background, history, generic description and discrimination from morphologically confusable genera, phylogeny, biology, host range and distribution, and species concept of Taeniolella species are briefly outlined and discussed. Keys to the species of Taeniolella divided by ecological groups (lichenicolous taxa, saprobic taxa) are provided, supplemented by a tabular key to lichenicolous species based on host (lichen) families and genera. Twenty-nine lichenicolous species and a Taeniolella sp. (putative asexual morph of Sphaerellothecium thamnoliae) as well as 16 saprobic species are described in detail and illustrated by drawings, macroscopic photographs, light microscopic and SEM micrographs, including six new lichenicolous species (T. arctoparmeliae on Arctoparmelia separata, T. lecanoricola on Lecanora rupicola, T. thelotrematis on Thelotrema, T. umbilicariae and T. umbilicariicola on Umbilicaria, T. weberi on Thelotrema weberi), three new saprobic species (T. filamentosa on Salix, T. ravenelii on Quercus, T. stilbosporoides on Salix caprea), and one new combination, T. arthoniae. Most saprobic Taeniolella species are wood-inhabiting (on bark, decorticated trunks and twigs, rotten wood), whereas lichenicolous species grow on thalli and fruiting bodies (mostly apothecia) of lichens, mostly without causing any evident damage, but they are nevertheless confined to their host lichens, or they are obviously pathogenic and cause either disease of the thalli (e.g., Taeniolella chrysothricis and T. delicata) or at least thallus discolorations or necroses (e.g., T. christiansenii, T. chrysothricis, T. cladinicola, T. pseudocyphellariae, and T. strictae). Taeniolella atricerebrina and T. rolfii induce the formation of distinct galls. The range of micro-morphological traits for taxonomic purposes is limited in Taeniolella species, but size, shape and septation of conidiophores and conidia, including surface ornamentation, provided basic characters. Mycelium, stromata and arrangement of conidiophores are less important for the differentiation of species. Lichenicolous species are widespread on a wide range of lichens, with a focus in the northern hemisphere, mainly in northern temperate regions, including arctic-subartic habitats (18 species, i.e., 62 % of the lichenicolous species). Eleven lichenicolous species, e.g., T. pseudocyphellariae, T. santessonii, T. thelotrematis, T. umbilicariae, are also known from collections in non-temperate Asia, Australia and South America (38 % of the species). Most collections deposited in herbaria are from northern temperate to arctic-subarctic regions, which may reflect activities of lichenologists and mycologist dealing with lichenicolous fungi in general and Taeniolella in particular. Most lichenicolous Taeniolella species are confined to hosts of a single lichen genus or few closely allied genera (26 species, i.e., 97 % of the lichenicolous species), but only three species, T. delicata, T. punctata, and T. verrucosa, have wider hosts ranges. Excluded, doubtful and insufficiently known species assigned to Taeniolella are listed at the end, discussed, described and in some cases illustrated, including Talpapellis beschiana comb. nov. (≡ Taeniolella beschiana), Corynespora laevistipitata (≡ Taeniolella laevistipitata), Stanjehughesia lignicola comb. nov. (≡ Taeniolella lignicola), Sterigmatobotrys rudis (≡ Taeniolella rudis), and Taeniolina scripta (≡ Taeniolella scripta).

Lichenicolous species of Hainesia belong to Phacidiales (Leotiomycetes) and are included in an extended concept of Epithamnolia

ABSTRACTThe lichenicolous taxa currently included in the genus Hainesia were studied based on the nuclear rDNA (18S, 28S, and internal transcribed spacer [ITS]) genes. The authors found that lichenicolous taxa form a distinct lineage sister to Epiglia gloeocapsae (Phacidiales, Leotiomycetes), only distantly related to the type species of Hainesia (Chaetomellaceae, Helotiales). Owing to morphological similarities, the authors include the lichenicolous species into the previously monotypic genus Epithamnolia. A new species, Epithamnolia rangiferinae, is described, several names are reduced into synonymy, and a key to the species of Epithamnolia is provided. The incorporation of public environmental ITS sequences showed that the closest relatives of these lichenicolous taxa are various endophytic, endolichenic, and soil-inhabiting fungi.

Lichens of Barla Mountain in Isparta, Turkey: Diversity study and ecological assessment of the area

This study reports on 230 infrageneric lichenized and lichenicolous taxa from Barla Mountain, Isparta, Turkey and assesses the ecological features of the area using the distribution of the lichens in the region and their poleophoby and solar irradiation ecological indicator values. One lichenized fungus, Protoblastenia terricola, and one lichenicolous fungus, Zwackhiomyces dispersus, are recorded as new in Turkey and 194 taxa are reported for the first time from Barla Mountain. After this research, number of the lichenized and lichenicolous fungi taxa of Barla Mountain rose to 241. Based on assessments using the ecological indicator values, the area is dominated by natural or semi-natural and well-preserved habitats.

Families of Sordariomycetes

Sordariomycetes is one of the largest classes of Ascomycota that comprises a highly diverse range of fungi characterized mainly by perithecial ascomata and inoperculate unitunicate asci. The class includes many important plant pathogens, as well as endophytes, saprobes, epiphytes, coprophilous and fungicolous, lichenized or lichenicolous taxa. They occur in terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats worldwide. This paper reviews the 107 families of the class Sordariomycetes and provides a modified backbone tree based on phylogenetic analysis of four combined loci, with a maximum five representative taxa from each family, where available. This paper brings together for the first time, since Barrs’ 1990 Prodromus, descriptions, notes on the history, and plates or illustrations of type or representative taxa of each family, a list of accepted genera, including asexual genera and a key to these taxa of Sordariomycetes. Delineation of taxa is supported where possible by molecular data. The outline is based on literature to the end of 2015 and the Sordariomycetes now comprises six subclasses, 32 orders, 105 families and 1331 genera. The family Obryzaceae and Pleurotremataceae are excluded from the class.

Contribution to the phylogeny and taxonomy of the genus Taeniolella, with a focus on lichenicolous taxa

Taeniolella is a genus of asexual ascomycetes with saprophytic, endophytic, and lichenicolous life styles. A phylogeny of representative species is presented, with a focus on lichenicolous taxa. We obtained mtSSU and nuLSU sequence data from culture isolates of Taeniolella and from freshly collected specimens of other taxa. Taeniolella is recovered as strongly polyphyletic. The type species, Taeniolella exilis, is placed in Kirschsteiniotheliaceae within Dothideomycetes. Other saprophytic/endophytic Taeniolella species previously assigned to Sordariomycetes based on sequences were found to represent either contaminants or species that cannot be assigned to Taeniolella for morphological reasons. Lichenicolous species are restricted to Asterotexiales (Dothideomycetes) where the sequenced species of Taeniolella do not form a monophyletic group, but are related to species of Buelliella s. lat., Karschia, Labrocarpon, Melaspilea s. lat., and Stictographa. Molecular data are, however, not sufficient to reallocate the lichenicolous Taeniolella species to other genera so far. Anamorph–teleomorph relationships between these taxa and lichenicolous Taeniolella are discussed but could not be demonstrated. The type of Buelliella is placed in Asterotexiales, and the genus recovered as polyphyletic. Three new lichenicolous Taeniolella species are described, Taeniolella hawksworthiana, Taeniolella pyrenulae and Taeniolella toruloides. Taeniolella rudis is transferred to Sterigmatobotrys.

Towards a natural classification and backbone tree for Sordariomycetes

Sordariomycetes is one of the largest classes of Ascomycota and is characterised by perithecial ascomata and inoperculate unitunicate asci. The class includes many important plant pathogens, as well as endophytes, saprobes, epiphytes, and fungicolous, lichenized or lichenicolous taxa. The class includes freshwater, marine and terrestrial taxa and has a worldwide distribution. This paper provides an updated outline of the Sordariomycetes and a backbone tree incorporating asexual and sexual genera in the class. Based on phylogeny and morphology we introduced three subclasses; Diaporthomycetidae, Lulworthiomycetidae and Meliolomycetidae and five orders; Amplistromatales, Annulatascales, Falcocladiales, Jobellisiales and Togniniales. The outline is based on literature to the end of 2014 and the backbone tree published in this paper. Notes for 397 taxa with information, such as new family and genera novelties, novel molecular data published since the Outline of Ascomycota 2009, and new links between sexual and asexual genera and thus synonymies, are provided. The Sordariomycetes now comprises six subclasses, 28 orders, 90 families and 1344 genera. In addition a list of 829 genera with uncertain placement in Sordariomycetes is also provided.

Remarkable Records of Lichens and Lichenicolous Fungi from the Harz National Park (Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, Germany)

Abstract: Czarnota, P., Kison, H.-U. & Seelemann, A. 2014. Remarkable records of lichens and lichenicolous fungi from the Harz National Park (Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, Germany). — Herzogia 27: 67–82. Some interesting results of lichenological surveys conducted mainly in 2012 in the Harz National Park, Germany are presented. Included are notes on distribution, ecology and taxonomy for 33 lichen-forming and seven lichenicolous taxa. Micarea nowakii is new to Germany. A total of 26 species are new to either Lower Saxony or Saxony-Anhalt; 25 species are new to the Harz National Park. Of all of the species reported, a total of 13 are listed as endangered in the recent German Red List of Lichens (categories GRL 1, 2 and 3).

The relationships of Odontotrema (Odontotremataceae) and the resurrected Sphaeropezia (Stictidaceae)—new combinations and three new Sphaeropezia species

Odontotremataceae is polyphyletic and constitutes two distantly related clades, the true Odontotremataceae and a segregate group within Stictidaceae including “Odontotrema” cassiopes, “O.” diffindens, lichenicolous “Odontotrema” species and “Bryodiscus” arctoalpinus. Sphaeropezia here is accepted as the name for this latter group. An updated phylogeny of the Stictidaceae based on mtSSU, nuLSU and the protein coding gene RPB2 is presented together with a taxonomic revision of Swedish taxa of Odontotrema and Sphaeropezia. Bryodiscus and Lethariicola are synonymized under Sphaeropezia, and three new Sphaeropezia species are described: the lignicolous S. capreae, the fungicolous S. lyckselensis and the lichenicolous S. mycoblasti. The new species are distinguished from other species by molecular and morphological characters, and substrate preferences. The new combinations Sphaeropezia arctoalpina, S. cassiopes, S. grimmiae, S. hepaticarum, S. melaneliae, S. ochrolechiae and S. thamnoliae are proposed. The morphology of these species was studied in detail. We further propose to combine the remaining lichenicolous Odontotrema species, exept O. stereocaulicola, in Sphaeropezia based on their close relationship to the studied lichenicolous taxa. These additional new combinations include Sphaeropezia bryoriae, S. cucularis, S. figulina, S. intermedia, S. japewiae, S. lecanorae, S. navarinoi, S. pertusariae, S. rhizocarpicola, S. santessonii, and S. sipei. A lectotype is designated for the name Odontotrema diffindens Nyl.

Phacopsis — A lichenicolous genus of the family Parmeliaceae

SSU nrDNA studies of two representatives of the lichenicolous genus Phacopsis revealed that they belong to the family Parmeliaceae (Lecanorales) and therefore represent lichenicolous lichens with an endokapylic thallus. Because they are the only lichenicolous taxa within this family, it is suggested that their transition from a foliose and/or fruticose precursor lichen might have been due to a unique (or rare) evolutionary one step event(s). Phylogenetic analyses of the ITS nrDNA of the type species of Phacopsis (P. vulpina) and Nesolechia (N. oxyspora = P. oxyspora) could neither confirm nor reject a monophyletic origin of these two Parmeliacean genera, as previously implied by their synonymization. However, it is considered premature to draw nomenclatorial consequences.

The chemical ecology of lichen mycoparasites: a review

Lichenicolous fungi colonize lichens to form a variety of biotrophic associations, and while some 300 genera and 1000 species have been recognized, almost nothing is known about their biology. The lichenicolous habit is an unusual one because lichens produce a variety of antibiotic secondary metabolites that are assumed to protect them from parasitic attack. This may explain why lichens are rarely parasitized in nature while nonlichen-forming Ascomycetes are frequently and extensively parasitized. Recent field and laboratory studies of lichen parasites from a number of fungal groups indicate that chemistry is indeed involved in these interactions. These results indicate that (i) lichenicolous taxa are better able to degrade lichens than related nonlichenicolous taxa, (ii) lichen parasites are generally tolerant of lichen secondary metabolites, (iii) this tolerance seems to be based in part on the ability of cell wall degrading enzymes of parasites to remain active in the presence of these lichen secondary metabolites, and (iv) the host preferences of some lichen parasites reflect these tolerances. Therefore, it appears likely that lichenicolous fungi, which have presumably had lengthy coevolutionary histories with lichens, have evolved a unique mode of nutrition that is based in part on an ability to tolerate lichen defense compounds. Key words: Hobsonia, lichens, lichenicolous fungi, Nectria, parasites.