The long-term effect of removing the UV-protectant usnic acid from the thalli of the lichen Cladonia foliacea.

ABSTRACT: Terricolous lichens are abundant in semi-arid areas, where they are exposed to high irradiation. Photoprotection is essential for the algae as the photobiont provides the primer carbon source for both symbionts. The UV-protectant lichen metabolites and different quenching procedures of the alga ensure adequate photoprotection. Since the long-term effect of diminishing UV-protectant lichen metabolites is unknown, a major part of lichen secondary metabolites was removed from Cladonia foliacea thalli by acetone rinsing, and the lichens were then maintained under field conditions to investigate the effect on both symbionts for 3 years. Our aim was to determine if the decreased level of UV-protectant metabolites caused an elevated photoprotection in the algae and to reveal the dynamics o

SUBMITTER: Veres K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9433529 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature