Semilichen, an unjustly neglected symbiotic system between green biofilms and true lichens.

ABSTRACT: Symbiotic systems of photosynthetic microorganisms and fungi are widespread in terrestrial biomes and lichens are probably the most advanced and complex. Conversely, the least complex systems are "green biofilms" with a completely unexplored mycobiome. We describe here a new system intermediate between green biofilms and lichens-semilichens. Light and fluorescence microscopy, eDNA sequencing, molecular phylogeny, Chlorophyll a fluorescence and ¹³C labelling/metabolomics were used to study algal and fungal identity, morphology and physiology of the symbiosis. Tight contact between algae and a single predominant fungus (mycobiont) is revealed in semilichens. The algae are from the symbiotic lineages of Trebouxiophyceae and Ulvophyceae, the fungi belong to Arthoniomycetes, Dothideo

SUBMITTER: Vondrak J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12783798 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature