Myrmecia, Not Asterochloris, Is the Main Photobiont of Cladonia subturgida (Cladoniaceae, Lecanoromycetes).

ABSTRACT: This study explores the diversity of photobionts associated with the Mediterranean lichen-forming fungus Cladonia subturgida. For this purpose, we sequenced the whole ITS rDNA region by Sanger using a metabarcoding method for ITS2. A total of 41 specimens from Greece, Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain were studied. Additionally, two specimens from Spain were used to generate four cultures. Our molecular studies showed that the genus Myrmecia is the main photobiont of C. subturgida throughout its geographic distribution. This result contrasts with previous studies, which indicated that the main photobiont for most Cladonia species is Asterochloris. The identity of Myrmecia was also confirmed by ultrastructural studies of photobionts within the lich

SUBMITTER: Pino-Bodas R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10744234 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature