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Study on endolichenic fungal assemblage in Parmotrema and Heterodermia lichens of Shivamoga, Karnataka

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Abstract

Background

Lichen is a symbiotic association of algae and fungi, recognized as a self-sustaining ecosystem that constitutes an indeterminant number of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and protozoa. We evaluated the endolichenic fungal assemblage given the dearth of knowledge on endolichenic fungi (ELFs), particularly from part of the Central Western Ghats, Karnataka, and conducted a phylogenetic analysis of xylariaceous fungi, the most diversified group of fungi using ITS and ITS+Tub2 gene set.

Results

Out of 17 lichen thalli collected from 5 ecoregions, 42 morphospecies recovered, belong to the class Sordariomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Dothideomycetes, Leotiomycetes, Saccharomycetes. About 19 and 13 ELF genera have been reported from Parmotrema and Heterodermia thallus. Among the ecoregions EC2 showing highest species diversity (Parmotrema (1-D) = 0.9382, (H) = 2.865, Fisher-α = 8.429, Heterodermia (1-D) = 0.8038, H = 1.894, F-α = 4.57) followed the EC3 and EC1. Xylariales are the predominant colonizer reported from at least one thallus from four ecoregions. The morphotypes ELFX04, ELFX05, ELFX08 and ELFX13 show the highest BLAST similarity (> 99%) with Xylaria psidii, X. feejeensis, X. berteri and Hypoxylon fragiforme respectively. Species delimitation and phylogenetic position reveal the closest relation of Xylariaceous ELFs with plant endophytes.

Conclusions

The observation highlights that the deciduous forest harness a high number of endolichenic fungi, a dominant portion of these fungi are non-sporulating and still exist as cryptic. Overall, 8 ELF species recognized based on phylogenetic analysis, including the two newly reported fungi ELFX03 and ELFX06 which are suspected to be new species based on the present evidence. The study proved, that the lichen being rich source to establish fungal diversity and finding new species. Successful amplification of most phylogenetic markers like RPB2, building of comprehensive taxonomic databases and application of multi-omics data are further needed to understand the complex nature of lichen-fungal symbiosis.

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Abbreviations

ELF:

Endolichenic fungi

ITS:

Internal transcribed spacer

Tub2:

Beta tubulin subunit 2

Tef1:

α Translation elongation factor 1 alfa

PDA:

Potato dextrose agar

MYA:

Malt yeast extract agar

SDA:

Sabouraud dextrose agar

CR:

Colonization rate

EC:

Ecoregion

OUT:

Operational taxonomic unit

NMDS:

Non metric multidimensional statistical analysis

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Dr. Sanjeeva Nayaka, Principal scientist, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, for his assistance during lichen identification. We thanks Dr. K. Manjunath lecturer, Department of PG Studies and Research in Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta and reviewer molecular biology reports for providing insightful comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.  We extend our thank to Barcode Biosciences Private Limited Bengaluru for providing the sequencing service.

Funding

This work was financially supported by University Grant Commission, India under NET JRF program (Reference No: 201610056738 dated: 4/2/202).

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  1. Department of PG Studies and Research in Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, Jnanasahyadri, Shankaraghatta, Karnataka, 577451, India

    Pushpavathi D. & Krishnamurthy Y. L.

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DP generated, analyses the data and prepare draft, YLK prepare the outline of the study, analyze the data, and finalized the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Krishnamurthy Y. L..

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Pushpavathi, D., Krishnamurthy, Y.L. Study on endolichenic fungal assemblage in Parmotrema and Heterodermia lichens of Shivamoga, Karnataka. Mol Biol Rep 51, 549 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-024-09497-3

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