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- Title
Challenging the lichen concept: <italic>Turgidosculum ulvae</italic> (<italic>Verrucariaceae</italic>) represents an independent photobiont shift to a multicellular blade-like alga.
- Authors
PÉREZ-ORTEGA, Sergio; MILLER, Kathy Ann; DE LOS RÍOS, Asunción
- Abstract
Some definitions of the term ‘lichen’ have often emphasized the role of the mycobiont as exhabitant in the symbiosis. <italic>Mastodia tessellata</italic> and <italic>Turgidosculum ulvae</italic>, both forming lichen-like associations with foliose algae, have traditionally defied that definition. In this study, we delve into the poorly known association of <italic>T. ulvae</italic> with <italic>Blidingia minima</italic>. Using four molecular markers (nrLSU, nrSSU, <italic>RPB1</italic>, mtSSU) we show that <italic>T. ulvae</italic> is a member of the family <italic>Verrucariaceae</italic>, closely related to the marine species <italic>Verrucaria ditmarsica</italic>. The presence of bitunicate asci and single-cell ascospores is confirmed. Our analysis of a fragment of the <italic>rbc</italic>L marker demonstrates that the photosynthetic partner belongs to <italic>B. minima</italic>, although relationships within this taxon remain unclear. Transmission electron microscopy allowed us to illustrate how <italic>T. ulvae</italic> interacts with <italic>Blidingia</italic> cells, and how haustoria in that species differ from those previously investigated in other marine lichen-forming fungi.
- Subjects
VERRUCARIACEAE; SYMBIOSIS; FUNGAL molecular biology; MOLECULAR biology; TRANSMISSION electron microscopy
- Publication
Lichenologist, 2018, Vol 50, Issue 3, p341
- ISSN
0024-2829
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1017/S0024282918000117