Is the Reindeer Lichen <i>Cladonia arbuscula</i> Really Producing Isousnic Acid? A Chemotaxonomy Query.

ABSTRACT: Isousnic acid (isoUA) has been detected in a few usnic acid (UA)-producing lichens with chemotaxonomic values. IsoUA was first isolated from a specimen belonging to Cladonia arbuscula s.l. (referred to as C. mitis in the publication). However, the isolation and detection of isoUA in this Cladonia species have not been reproduced and confirmed with clear evidence. This study focused on C. arbuscula s.l. collected in Iceland and aimed to (1) identify the lichen specimen using DNA barcoding and (2) investigate whether isoUA is produced using a series of chromatographic methods. The fungal nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) barcode was sequenced, and the specimen was identified as C. arbuscula, following recent circumscription recommendatio

SUBMITTER: Isleifsdottir D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12787162 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature