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Osyczka P, Myśliwa-Kurdziel B. Do the expected heatwaves pose a threat to lichens?: Linkage between a passive decline in water content in thalli and response to heat stress. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024. [PMID: 38874284 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Being poikilohydric, lichens are inherently exposed to alternating desiccation and hydration cycles. They can exhibit extraordinary resistance to extreme temperatures in a dehydrated state but thermal thresholds for hydrated lichens are lower. The ability of the lichen Cetraria aculeata to recovery after high temperature treatment (40°C, 60°C) at different air humidity levels (relative humidity [RH]: <15%, 25%, 50%, 75%, ≅100%) was examined to find a linkage between passive dehydration of the lichen and its physiological resistance to heat stress. The response to heating was determined by measuring parameters related to photosynthesis and respiration after 2- and 24-h recovery. A higher RH level resulted in a slower decline in relative water content (RWC) in hydrated thalli. In turn, the stress resistance of active thalli depended on the ambient humidity and associated RWC reduction. Elevated temperature had a negative impact on bioenergetic processes, but only an unnatural state of permanent full hydration during heat stress resulted in a lethal effect. Hydrated lichen thalli heated at 40°C and 50% relative humidity (RH) tended to be least susceptible to stress-induced damage. Although atypical climatic conditions may lead lichens to lethal thresholds, the actual likelihood of deadly threat to lichens due to heat events per se is debatable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Osyczka
- Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Beata Myśliwa-Kurdziel
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
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2
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Worthy FR, Schaefer DA, Wanasinghe D, Xu JC, Wang LS, Wang XY. Acquisition of green algal photobionts enables both chlorolichens and chloro-cyanolichens to activate photosynthesis at low humidity without liquid water. AOB PLANTS 2024; 16:plae025. [PMID: 38770101 PMCID: PMC11102867 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plae025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria require liquid water for photosynthesis, whereas green algae can photosynthesise with water vapour alone. We discovered that several Lobaria spp. which normally have cyanobacteria as the sole photobiont, in some regions of the trans-Himalayas also harboured green algae. We tested whether green algal acquisition was: limited to high elevations; obtained from neighbouring chloro-Lobaria species; enabled photosynthesis at low humidity. Lobaria spp. were collected from 2000 to 4000 m elevation. Spectrophotometry quantified green algal abundance by measuring chlorophyll b (absent in cyanobacteria). Thalli cross-sections visually confirmed green algal presence. We sequenced gene regions: Lobaria (ITS-EF-1α-RPB2), green algae (18S-RBC-L) and Nostoc (16S). Phylogenetic analysis determined myco-photobiont associations. We used a custom closed-circuit gas exchange system with an infrared gas analyser to measure CO2 exchange rates for desiccated specimens at 33%, 76%, 86% and 98% humidity. Cross-sections revealed that the photobiont layers in putative cyano-Lobaria contained both cyanobacteria and green algae, indicating that they should be considered chloro-cyanolichens. Chloro-Lobaria had no visible cephalodia nor cyanobacteria in the photobiont layer. Chloro-Lobaria and chloro-cyano-Lobaria had comparable levels of chlorophyll b. Chloro-Lobaria usually contained Symbiochloris. Chloro-cyano-Lobaria mainly associated with Parachloroidium and Nostoc; infrequently with Symbiochloris, Apatococcus, Chloroidium, Pseudochlorella, Trebouxia. Sequences from two green algal genera were obtained from within some thalli. Desiccated specimens of every Lobaria species could attain net photosynthesis with light exposure and 33% humidity. CO2 exchange dynamics over a five-day period differed between species. At all elevations, chloro-cyano-Lobaria spp. had abundant green algae in the photobiont layer, but green algal strains mostly differed to those of chloro-Lobaria spp. Both chloro-Lobaria and chloro-cyano-Lobaria were capable of conducting photosynthesis without liquid water. The data strongly suggest that they attained positive net photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Ruth Worthy
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Honghe Centre for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Douglas Allen Schaefer
- Honghe Centre for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Dhanushka Wanasinghe
- Honghe Centre for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Department of Soil Science, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jian Chu Xu
- Honghe Centre for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Li Song Wang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Xin Yu Wang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
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Wang Y, Li R, Wang D, Qian B, Bian Z, Wei J, Wei X, Xu JR. Regulation of symbiotic interactions and primitive lichen differentiation by UMP1 MAP kinase in Umbilicaria muhlenbergii. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6972. [PMID: 37914724 PMCID: PMC10620189 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42675-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichens are of great ecological importance but mechanisms regulating lichen symbiosis are not clear. Umbilicaria muhlenbergii is a lichen-forming fungus amenable to molecular manipulations and dimorphic. Here, we established conditions conducive to symbiotic interactions and lichen differentiation and showed the importance of UMP1 MAP kinase in lichen development. In the initial biofilm-like symbiotic complexes, algal cells were interwoven with pseudohyphae covered with extracellular matrix. After longer incubation, fungal-algal complexes further differentiated into primitive lichen thalli with a melanized cortex-like and pseudoparenchyma-like tissues containing photoactive algal cells. Mutants deleted of UMP1 were blocked in pseudohyphal growth and development of biofilm-like complexes and primitive lichens. Invasion of dividing mother cells that contributes to algal layer organization in lichens was not observed in the ump1 mutant. Overall, these results showed regulatory roles of UMP1 in symbiotic interactions and lichen development and suitability of U. muhlenbergii as a model for studying lichen symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Rong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Diwen Wang
- Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Ben Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Zhuyun Bian
- Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jiangchun Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xinli Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Jin-Rong Xu
- Dept. of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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Wang J, Zhao H, Guo Q, Ding H. Identification and antibacterial activity of Thamnolia vermicularis and Thamnolia subuliformis. J Microbiol Methods 2022; 203:106628. [PMID: 36442696 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2022.106628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Thamnolia vermicularis (Tv) and Thamnolia subuliformis (Ts) are two species from the same habitat with such similar external morphological characteristics that researchers often confuse the two in their scientific work and do not distinguish between them. This study applies three different methods to distinguish them. The diversity of endophytic fungi was also compared and their antibacterial activity in vitro was evaluated. The results show that all three methods can distinguish Tv and Ts, and can be used to cross-validate each other. The ultraviolet fluorescence method and the chemical colour change method are simpler strategies, while thin-layer chromatography is relatively complicated but can more clearly distinguish the chemical composition of the two species. In the analysis of the endophytic fungi community structure of Tv and Ts, it was found that the diversity of endophytic fungi in Tv was more abundant and had wider antibacterial activity and better inhibitory activity against gram-positive bacteria in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
| | - Haojun Zhao
- Dali Quality and Technical Comprehensive Supervision Testing Center, Dali 671000, China
| | - Qixin Guo
- Dali Quality and Technical Comprehensive Supervision Testing Center, Dali 671000, China
| | - Haiyan Ding
- School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali 671000, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Screening and Research on Anti-pathogenic Plant Resources from West Yunnan (Cultivation), Dali 671000, China.
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5
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Tanunchai B, Schroeter SA, Ji L, Wahdan SFM, Hossen S, Lehnert AS, Grünberg H, Gleixner G, Buscot F, Schulze ED, Noll M, Purahong W. More than you can see: Unraveling the ecology and biodiversity of lichenized fungi associated with leaves and needles of 12 temperate tree species using high-throughput sequencing. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:907531. [PMID: 36187953 PMCID: PMC9523249 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.907531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, lichen surveys are generally based on the examination of fruiting bodies. Lichens in the mycelial stage, in spores, or awaiting conditions for fruiting body formation are usually overlooked, even though they are important for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functions. This study aimed to explore the lichenized fungal community composition and richness associated with leaves and needles of 12 temperate tree species using Illumina MiSeq-based amplicon sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 2 region. Picea abies harbored the highest richness and number of lichenized fungal species. We found that the lichenized fungus Physcia adscendens dominated the leaves and needles of the most temperate tree species. Eleven lichenized fungal species detected in this study were recorded for the first time on leaves and needles. In addition, we identified Athallia cerinella, Fellhanera bouteillei, and Melanohalea exasperata that are on the German national red lists. Lichenized fungal richness was higher in conifer compared to broadleaf trees. Overall, tree species (within coniferous trees) and tree types (broadleaved vs. coniferous trees) harbored significantly different lichenized fungal community compositions pointing out the importance of host species. Diversity and community composition patterns of lichenized fungi were correlated mainly with tree species. Our study demonstrates that the diversity of foliicolous lichens associated with leaves and needles of 12 temperate tree species can be appropriately analyzed and functionally assigned using the ITS-based high-throughput sequencing. We highlighted the importance of conifers for maintaining the biodiversity of foliicolous lichens. Based on the discovery of many red list lichens, our methodological approach and results are important contributions to subsequent actions in the bio-conversation approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjawan Tanunchai
- Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Simon Andreas Schroeter
- Biogeochemical Processes Department, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - Li Ji
- Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle (Saale), Germany
- School of Forestry, Central South of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, China
| | - Sara Fareed Mohamed Wahdan
- Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Shakhawat Hossen
- Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Coburg, Germany
| | - Ann-Sophie Lehnert
- Biogeochemical Processes Department, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Gerd Gleixner
- Biogeochemical Processes Department, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - François Buscot
- Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ernst-Detlef Schulze
- Biogeochemical Processes Department, Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - Matthias Noll
- Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- Institute of Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Coburg, Germany
- Matthias Noll
| | - Witoon Purahong
- Department of Soil Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Halle (Saale), Germany
- *Correspondence: Witoon Purahong
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Škvorová Z, Černajová I, Steinová J, Peksa O, Moya P, Škaloud P. Promiscuity in Lichens Follows Clear Rules: Partner Switching in Cladonia Is Regulated by Climatic Factors and Soil Chemistry. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:781585. [PMID: 35173688 PMCID: PMC8841807 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.781585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Climatic factors, soil chemistry and geography are considered as major factors affecting lichen distribution and diversity. To determine how these factors limit or support the associations between the symbiotic partners, we revise the lichen symbiosis as a network of relationships here. More than one thousand thalli of terricolous Cladonia lichens were collected at sites with a wide range of soil chemical properties from seven biogeographical regions of Europe. A total of 18 OTUs of the algal genus Asterochloris and 181 OTUs of Cladonia mycobiont were identified. We displayed all realized pairwise mycobiont-photobiont relationships and performed modularity analysis. It revealed four virtually separated modules of cooperating OTUs. The modules differed in mean annual temperature, isothermality, precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil pH, nitrogen, and carbon contents. Photobiont switching was strictly limited to algae from one module, i.e., algae of similar ecological preferences, and only few mycobionts were able to cooperate with photobionts from different modules. Thus, Cladonia mycobionts generally cannot widen their ecological niches through photobiont switching. The modules also differed in the functional traits of the mycobionts, e.g., sexual reproduction rate, presence of soredia, and thallus type. These traits may represent adaptations to the environmental conditions that drive the differentiation of the modules. In conclusion, the promiscuity in Cladonia mycobionts is strictly limited by climatic factors and soil chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Škvorová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ivana Černajová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jana Steinová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ondřej Peksa
- Museum of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Pilsen, Czechia
| | - Patricia Moya
- Botánica, ICBIBE, Fac. CC. Biológicas, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pavel Škaloud
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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7
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Nazem-Bokaee H, Hom EFY, Warden AC, Mathews S, Gueidan C. Towards a Systems Biology Approach to Understanding the Lichen Symbiosis: Opportunities and Challenges of Implementing Network Modelling. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:667864. [PMID: 34012428 PMCID: PMC8126723 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.667864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lichen associations, a classic model for successful and sustainable interactions between micro-organisms, have been studied for many years. However, there are significant gaps in our understanding about how the lichen symbiosis operates at the molecular level. This review addresses opportunities for expanding current knowledge on signalling and metabolic interplays in the lichen symbiosis using the tools and approaches of systems biology, particularly network modelling. The largely unexplored nature of symbiont recognition and metabolic interdependency in lichens could benefit from applying a holistic approach to understand underlying molecular mechanisms and processes. Together with ‘omics’ approaches, the application of signalling and metabolic network modelling could provide predictive means to gain insights into lichen signalling and metabolic pathways. First, we review the major signalling and recognition modalities in the lichen symbioses studied to date, and then describe how modelling signalling networks could enhance our understanding of symbiont recognition, particularly leveraging omics techniques. Next, we highlight the current state of knowledge on lichen metabolism. We also discuss metabolic network modelling as a tool to simulate flux distribution in lichen metabolic pathways and to analyse the co-dependence between symbionts. This is especially important given the growing number of lichen genomes now available and improved computational tools for reconstructing such models. We highlight the benefits and possible bottlenecks for implementing different types of network models as applied to the study of lichens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Nazem-Bokaee
- CSIRO Australian National Herbarium, Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, National Research Collections Australia, NCMI, Canberra, ACT, Australia.,CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, ACT, Australia.,CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Erik F Y Hom
- Department of Biology and Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Research, The University of Mississippi, University City, MS, United States
| | | | - Sarah Mathews
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Cécile Gueidan
- CSIRO Australian National Herbarium, Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, National Research Collections Australia, NCMI, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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