Sporodophoron primorskiense

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Sporodophoron primorskiense
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Arthoniomycetes
Order: Arthoniales
Family: Arthoniaceae
Genus: Sporodophoron
Species:
S. primorskiense
Binomial name
Sporodophoron primorskiense
Frisch & Y.Ohmura (2015)

Sporodophoron primorskiense is a little-known species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Arthoniaceae. [1] It is notable for its distinctive white, thin growth patterns and small sporodochia , or spore-producing structures. The species is named after the Primorsky Krai region in the Russian Far East, where it was first discovered. It has since been recorded in Japan.

Contents

Taxonomy

Sporodophoron primorskiense was described as a new species by Andreas Frisch and Yoshihito Ohmura in 2015. The etymology of the species name primorskiense derives from Primorsky Krai, the region in the Russian Far East where the type specimen was discovered. The holotype of this species was collected on the bark of a deciduous broadleaf tree, at an elevation of 220 m (720 ft), in September 2013. [2]

Description

Sporodophoron primorskiense is characterised by a thin, whitish, continuous thallus, which appears pale olivaceous grey to white. Its texture ranges from matte to slightly glossy, with an average height of around 0.17 mm. This species is distinguished by its numerous small, discrete sporodochia , which measure between 0.25 and 0.50 mm in diameter. The sporodochia are convex in shape and well-differentiated, sometimes exhibiting a less distinct thallus margin. [2]

Sporodophoron primorskiense forms sporodochial conidia , or asexual spores, that have between 0 and 2 septa, with an irregular shape that can be round, elliptical, or short cylindrical. These conidia measure between 5–11 by 3.0–4.5  μm in diameter. They are hyaline, or transparent, and are often bent, wavy in outline, or slightly branched. [2]

Unlike some other species, S. primorskiense does not produce apothecia, or sexual fruiting bodies. This species also lacks the compound 2'-O-methylperlatolic acid, which is present in the closely related S. gossypinum . This absence, along with differences in the size and number of sporodochia and conidia, help distinguish S. primorskiense from S. gossypinum. [2]

In chemical spot tests, the thallus and sporodochia of S. primorskiense react to a potassium hydroxide (K) test with a lemon yellow colour. Other reagents do not yield positive reactions, including C−, KC−, and PD−. The species is also iodine (I) and potassium iodide (KI) positive, indicating the presence of certain compounds. [2] A chemical analysis of the lichen published in 2023, using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry revealed the presence of several lichen products previously unknown to the species: confluentic acid, 4-0-methylolivetolcarboxylic acid, hyperlatolic acid, and perlatolic acid. [3]

Similar species

Sporodophoron primorskiense is morphologically similar to S. gossypinum, but can be differentiated by several physical and chemical characteristics. Unlike S. gossypinum, S. primorskiense is corticolous, preferring to grow on the bark of trees. Additionally, the sporodochia of S. primorskiense are smaller and more numerous, ranging from 0.25 to 0.50 mm, compared to the 0.5–0.9 mm-sized sporodochia of S. gossypinum. The conidia of S. primorskiense are also slightly smaller, measuring 5–11 by 3.0–4.5 μm, in contrast to the 6–14 by 3.5–7.0 μm conidia of S. gossypinum. [2]

Notably, S. primorskiense does not contain 2'-O-methylperlatolic acid, a compound that is present in S. gossypinum. DNA sequence data also confirms the genetic distinctness of S. primorskiense from S. gossypinum. This species is also distinct from Sporodophoron americanum , another member of the same genus, which differs in its chemical composition and has wider sporodochial conidia. [2]

Habitat and distribution

Sporodophoron primorskiense was originally known to occur in a single locality in Primorsky Krai in the Russian Far East. There, it grows on the bark of broadleaf deciduous trees in mixed forest regions, particularly along streams. [2] The following year, the lichen was reported from Toyama Prefecture in Japan, where it was found in an old-growth forest growing on the bark of Fagus crenata at an elevation of about 1,000 m (3,300 ft). Situated at the Japanese side of the Sea of Japan, this location is opposite from Primorsky Krai. [4] In 2023, S. primorskiense was recorded in two more locations in deciduous and mixed forests in the south of Primorye Territory. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthoniaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Arthoniaceae are a family of lichenized, lichenicolous and saprobic fungi in the order Arthoniales. The Arthoniaceae is the largest family of Arthoniales, with around 800 species. Most species in Arthoniaceae belong in Arthonia which is the largest genus with 500 species. The second and third largest genus is Arthothelium with 80 species, and Cryptothecia with 60 species.

Sagenidiopsis isidiata is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) byssoid lichen in the family Arthoniaceae. Found in tropical montane rainforests throughout Central America, South America, and the Antilles, it was described as new to science in 2011. The lichen is characterised by its cream-coloured to greyish thallus and numerous pseudoisidia, which are small, cylindrical outgrowths on its surface.

Parmelia asiatica is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It was described as new to science in 2011 by lichenologists Ana Crespo and Pradeep Divakar, based on specimens from Yunnan, China. Since then, its known distribution has expanded to include various regions of Russia, parts of North America, and as of 2024, European Russia. The species is found in the forests of temperate and boreal climates, growing on the bark of various tree species. Parmelia asiatica is distinguished by its small thallus with narrow, more or less linear lobes, soralia that appear at the ends of the lobes, marginal linear pseudocyphellae, and a chemical composition that includes atranorin, salazinic acid, and consalazinic acid. While similar to other Parmelia species, it can be differentiated from them by its morphological and chemical characteristics.

<i>Punctelia hypoleucites</i> Species of foliose lichen

Punctelia hypoleucites, commonly known as the southwestern speckled shield lichen, is a species of foliose (leafy) lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. First formally described by Finnish botanist William Nylander as a species of Parmelia, it was transferred to the genus Punctelia in 1982. The lichen is found in Africa, North America, and South America, where it grows on the bark of both hardwood and coniferous trees. Its greenish-grey thallus is covered with tiny white pseudocyphellae – minute holes in the thallus surface that facilitate gas exchange. Some macroscopic features that help distinguish this species from other related members of the genus include the presence and the structure of the apothecia, the absence of asexual surface propagules, and the light brown color of the thallus undersurface. Chemically, the presence of lecanoric acid in the medulla and atranorin in the cortex help distinguish it from lookalikes.

<i>Punctelia bolliana</i> Species of lichen

Punctelia bolliana, the eastern speckled shield lichen, is a species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It is found in North America, with a distribution extending from the Canadian province of Ontario south to the central and northeastern United States and Mexico. It grows on the bark of both deciduous trees and coniferous trees. The combination of characteristics that distinguishes this species from others in genus Punctelia are the absence of the vegetative propagules isidia and soralia, a pale brown lower thallus surface, and the presence of the secondary chemical protolichesterinic acid in the medulla.

<i>Punctelia perreticulata</i> Species of lichen

Punctelia perreticulata is a widely distributed species of foliose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae. It occurs in Mediterranean Europe and Russia, North America, South America, Australia, and New Zealand, where it grows on rocks, bark, or wood. Its main distinguishing features are its thallus surface, marked with many shallow depressions, grooves, or pits, and sorediate pseudocyphellae. The lower side of the thallus is ivory to tan towards the centre and the major secondary metabolite in the medulla is lecanoric acid. A lookalike species with which it has been historically confused is Punctelia subrudecta; this lichen can be distinguished from Punctelia perreticulata by the texture of the thallus surface, or, more reliably, by the length of its conidia.

Cryptothecia lichexanthonica is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Arthoniaceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2013 by Edvaneide Leandro de Lima, André Aptroot, and Marcela Eugenia da Silva Cáceres. The type specimen was collected by Lima from the Vale do Catimbau National Park, at an altitude of 885 m (2,904 ft); here it was found growing on smooth tree bark. The lichen has a smooth, pale greenish-grey spreading thallus up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. The thallus, which is 0.1–0.2 mm thick, is surrounded by a thin brown hypothallus. The ascospores are muriform, ellipsoid in shape, and measure 55–75 by 22–28 μm. The specific epithet lichexanthonica refers to lichexanthone, a secondary chemical that occurs in the thallus. This compound is rare in the genus Cryptothecia, as the only other congener in which it known is to occur is Cryptothecia assimilis.

Inoderma is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Arthoniaceae. It was resurrected for use in 2015 for a small group of species with the following features: elevated, white pruinose pycnidia, immersed to adnate white pruinose apothecia, and a weakly gelatinized hymenium. Inoderma byssaceum was assigned as the type species for the genus.

Inoderma sorediatum is a species of crustose lichen in the family Arthoniaceae. It is only known to occur on the bark of trees in Poland's Białowieża National Park. It is differentiated from other species in genus Inoderma by the form of its thallus, which is entirely made of powdery, granular soredia, as well as by the presence of a unique combination of lichen products.

Opegrapha verseghyklarae is a little-known species of lichenicolous (lichen-eating) fungus in the family Opegraphaceae. It is found in the Russian Far East, where it grows on the thalli and apothecia of the crustose lichen Ochrolechia pallescens.

Lecidella mandshurica is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Lecanoraceae. It is found in the Russian Far East, South Korea, and China.

Biatora oxneri is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen in the family Ramalinaceae. It is found in the Russian Far East and in South Korea.

Oxneria ussuriensis is a species of corticolous, crustose lichen in the family Teloschistaceae. It is found in a single location in the Russian Far East.

Galbinothrix is a fungal genus in the family Chrysotrichaceae. It is monotypic, containing the single species Galbinothrix caesiopruinosa, a corticolous (bark-dwelling) lichen.

<i>Sporodophoron</i> Genus of lichen-forming fungi

Sporodophoron is a genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Arthoniaceae. It includes four corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichen species. Sporodophoron is uniquely characterised by the formation of fruiting structures called sporodochia, which are open conidiomata in the form of tufts of conidiophores on the thallus. Although these lichens bear a strong resemblance to Inoderma, another genus within the same family, Sporodophoron's distinct chemical makeup sets it apart from its lichen relatives. Collectively, the genus has a widespread geographical distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, with species found in distinct habitats in North America, Europe, Japan, and the Russian Far East.

Cryptothecia albomaculatella is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Arthoniaceae. It is a common lichen species in Thailand, and has also been recorded from Assam, India.

Enterographa aldabrensis is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Roccellaceae. It is only known to occur in Aldabra in the Seychelles.

Astrothelium infravulcanum is a species of corticolous (bark-dwelling), crustose lichen in the family Trypetheliaceae. This species was discovered in the rainforests of Acre, Brazil, and is distinguished by its unique features and chemical makeup.

Sclerococcum toensbergii is a species of lichenicolous (lichen-dwelling) fungus in the family Sclerococcaceae. It is known from only a couple of collections made in the northwestern United States, and a collection in France. In the United States, it has been recorded on the bark-dwelling lichens Megalaria pulverea and Pertusaria carneopallida, while in France, it was found growing on Caloplaca cerina.

Glomerulophoron is a small genus of lichen-forming fungi in the family Arthoniaceae. The genus contains two species of corticolous (bark-dwelling) crustose lichens. It was circumscribed in 2015 by the lichenologists Andreas Frisch, Damien Ertz, and Göran Thor. It was created to contain a single species from Mauritius, G. mauritiae, which was distinct from the similar genus Sporodophoron both genetically and morphologically, in the tightly coiled chains of sporodochial conidia. The genus gained another member in 2024 when the Brazilian species G. confluentisorediatum was added to it. It is distinguished from the type species by the absence of sporodochia.

References

  1. "Sporodophoron primorskiense Frisch & Y. Ohmura". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Frisch, Andreas; Ohmura, Yoshihito; Ertz, Damien; Thor, Göran (2015). "Inoderma and related genera in Arthoniaceae with elevated white pruinose pycnidia or sporodochia". The Lichenologist. 47 (4): 233–256. doi:10.1017/s0024282915000201. S2CID   91038509.
  3. 1 2 Valerievich, Frolov Ivan; Andreevich, Prokopiev Ilya (2023). "The poorly known in Russia sporodochial lichen genus Sporodophoron (Arthoniaceae) with one species new to the country and continental Eurasia". Turczaninowia. 26 (1): 136–144. doi: 10.14258/turczaninowia.26.1.14 . S2CID   258245584.
  4. Ohmura, Yoshihito; Frisch, Andreas (2016). "Sporodophoron primorskiense (Arthoniaceae, lichenized Ascomycota) new to Japan, as the second locality in the world". Journal of Japanese Botany. 91: 69–73. S2CID   89855200.