Pseudopeltula

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Pseudopeltula
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Lichinomycetes
Order: Lichinales
Family: Gloeoheppiaceae
Genus: Pseudopeltula
Henssen (1995)
Type species
Pseudopeltula myriocarpa
Henssen (1995)
Species

P. dicyanophora
P. heppioides
P. myriocarpa
P. necrocorticata

Contents

Pseudopeltula is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Gloeoheppiaceae. [1] [2] Established in 1995 by the lichenologist Aino Henssen, the genus currently includes four recognised species. These small cyanolichens are characterised by their squamulose (scaly) to peltate (shield-shaped) thalli, which lack a lower cortex and are attached to the substrate by rhizines. A key feature of Pseudopeltula is its complex apothecia (fruiting bodies), which have hymenia that often become divided by sterile tissue as they mature. The genus is primarily found in arid and semi-arid regions of North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, where species typically grow on soil, rock, or thin soil over rock, often forming part of biological soil crusts in desert environments.

Taxonomy

The genus Pseudopeltula was established in 1995 by lichenologist Aino Henssen, with P. myriocarpa assigned as the type species. It is classified within the family Gloeoheppiaceae in the order Lichinales. [3]

Pseudopeltula was initially distinguished from the closely related genus Gloeoheppia based on its complex apothecia with divided hymenia. However, later observations revealed some overlap in this characteristic between the two genera, leading to debate about their distinction. [4]

Description

Pseudopeltula species are small, lichenised fungi that form a symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria. Their main body, the thallus, is typically squamulose (composed of small, scale-like structures) to peltate (shield-shaped and attached at a central point). [3] [4]

The thallus lacks a lower cortex (a protective layer on the underside) and attaches to the substrate via rhizines, which are root-like structures composed of fungal filaments. The upper surface of the thallus can be smooth, cracked, or wrinkled, and its colour is usually yellowish-olive to dark olive. [5] [4]

Internally, the thallus has a distinctive structure. The photobiont layer, which contains the cyanobacterial partner, is composed of a single-celled cyanobacterium, likely belonging to the genus Chroococcidiopsis . The fungal hyphae form a network around these cyanobacterial cells. [5]

A unique feature observed in some species, such as P. necrocorticata, is the presence of a phenocortex , also known as a "false cortex". This is an upper layer composed of dead fungal and cyanobacterial cells, which suggests that the thallus grows not only at the margins but also upwards. [5]

The apothecia (reproductive structures) are a defining characteristic of Pseudopeltula. These are typically immersed in the thallus or only slightly protruding, with a reddish-brown to dark brown disc . A key feature is that the hymenium (the spore-producing layer) often becomes divided by sterile tissue as it matures, creating a complex internal structure. [3] [4]

The asci (spore-containing sacs) in Pseudopeltula usually contain eight spores, although this can vary between species. The spores themselves are typically ellipsoid and colourless. [5] [4]

Habitat and distribution

Pseudopeltula species are primarily found in arid and semi-arid regions of North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. They are particularly well-represented in the Sonoran Desert region, which spans parts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. These lichens typically grow on a variety of substrates. They can be found on bare soil, thin layers of soil over rock, or directly on rock surfaces. Some species show a preference for specific rock types. For instance, P. heppioides has been recorded growing on volcanic rock in Baja California Sur. [4]

Pseudopeltula species often form part of biological soil crusts in desert and semi-desert environments. They can be found in various microhabitats within these ecosystems, from open, exposed areas to slightly shaded spots under desert shrubs. For example, P. necrocorticata has been collected from east-facing coastal slopes, plains with cacti and other desert vegetation, and on gravel at mountain slopes. The genus appears to be adapted to harsh environmental conditions, including high light intensity, extreme temperatures, and limited water availability. This is evidenced by their presence in habitats such as the thornbush vegetation of Baja California and the coastal shrublands of northern Mexico. [5]

Species

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Gloeoheppia is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Gloeoheppiaceae. It comprises five species. The genus is distinguished from similar-looking lichens like Heppia by its internal structure, the nature of its photobiont, and details of its reproductive structures.

Metamelanea is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Lichinaceae. It consists of three species of rock-dwelling lichens.

Pyrenothrix is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Pyrenotrichaceae. It comprises two species of filamentous lichens, which are organisms formed by a symbiotic relationship between fungi and photosynthetic partners. The genus is characterized by its unique structure, featuring densely arranged filaments composed of cyanobacteria wrapped in fungal threads. Pyrenothrix species form dark greyish-brown growths on various surfaces, with one species found on tree bark and the other on leaves in tropical forests. The genus was circumscribed in 1917 by American scientist Lincoln Ware Riddle, based on specimens collected in Florida. Pyrenothrix is distinguished from other lichens by its intricate cellular structure and reproductive features, including specialized spore-producing structures.

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References

  1. ↑ "Pseudopeltula". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  2. ↑ Wijayawardene, N.N.; Hyde, K.D.; Dai, D.Q.; Sánchez-García, M.; Goto, B.T.; Saxena, R.K.; et al. (2022). "Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa – 2021". Mycosphere. 13 (1): 53–453 [180]. doi:10.5943/mycosphere/13/1/2. hdl: 1854/LU-8754813 .
  3. 1 2 3 Henssen, Aino (1995). "The new lichen family Gloeoheppiaceae and its genera Gloeoheppia, Pseudopeltula and Gudelia (Lichinales)". The Lichenologist. 27 (4): 261–290. doi:10.1006/lich.1995.0025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Schultz, Matthias (2007). "On the identity of Anema dodgei, Psorotichia segregata and Psorotichia squamulosa, three misunderstood cyanolichens from the southwestern United States". The Bryologist. 110 (2): 286–294. doi:10.1639/0007-2745(2007)110[286:otioad]2.0.co;2.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Büdel, Burkhard; Schultz, Matthias (2011). "Pseudopeltula necrocorticata sp. nova, a new species in the cyanolichen order Lichinales with an unusual thallus morphology". Biomonitoring, Ecology, and Systematics of Lichens Festschrift Thomas H. Nash III. Bibliothecia Lichenologica. Vol. 106. Stuttgart: J. Cramer in der Gebr. Borntraeger Verlagsbuchhandlung. pp. 15–20. ISBN   978-3-443-58085-8.
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