A new checklist of lichenized fungi occurring in Thailand

In vitro Antibacterial Activity and Secondary Metabolite Profiling of Endolichenic Fungi Isolated from Genus Parmotrema

The endolichenic fungi are an unexplored group of organisms for the production of bioactive secondary metabolites. The aim of the present study is to determine the antibacterial potential of endolichenic fungi isolated from genus Parmotrema. The study is continuation of our previous work, wherein a total of 73 endolichenic fungi were isolated from the lichenized fungi, which resulted in 47 species under 23 genera. All the isolated endolichenic fungi were screened for preliminary antibacterial activity. Five endolichenic fungi-Daldinia eschscholtzii, Nemania diffusa, Preussia sp., Trichoderma sp. and Xylaria feejeensis, were selected for further antibacterial activity by disc diffusion method. The zone of inhibition ranged from 14.3 ± 0.1 to 23.2 ± 0.1. The chemical composition of the selected endolichenic fungi was analysed through GC-MS, which yielded a total of 108 compounds from all the selected five endolichenic fungi. Diethyl phthalate, 1-hexadecanol, dibutyl phthalate, n-tetracosanol-1, 1-nonadecene, pyrrol[1,2-a] pyrazine-1,4-dione, hexahydro-3-(2-methyl) and tetratetracontane were found to be common compounds among one or the other endolichenic fungi, which possibly were responsible for antibacterial activity. GC-MS data were further analysed through Principal Component Analysis which showed D. eschscholtzii to be with unique pattern of expression of metabolites. Compound confirmation test revealed coumaric acid to be responsible for antibacterial activity in D. eschscholtzii. So, the study proves that endolichenic fungi that inhabit lichenized fungal thalli could be a source of potential antibacterial compounds.

Laboratory and field measurements of water relations, photosynthetic parameters, and hydration traits in macrolichens in a tropical lower montane rainforest in Thailand

Ecophysiological studies of lichens in tropical Asia are rare, and additional studies can increase the understanding of lichen life in this region. The main aim of this study was to observe the relationships between water availability and photosynthetic parameters, as well as hydration trait parameters, in macrolichens during the rainy and dry seasons in a tropical forest. A total of 11 lichen species growing in a lower montane rainforest in Thailand were collected and studied. The results clearly showed that the specific thallus mass (STM), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), the potential quantum yield of primary photochemistry (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll content, and carotenoid content of almost all lichens were lower in the dry season than in the rainy season. Field measurements in the dry season revealed that only the foliose chlorolichen Parmotrema tinctorum was metabolically active and exhibited slight carbon assimilation. In the rainy season, all lichens started their photosynthesis in the early morning, reached maximal values, declined, and ceased when the thalli desiccated. The photosynthetically active period of the lichens was approximately 2-3 h in the morning, and the activities of the cyanolichens ended approximately 30 min after the chlorolichens. The hydration trait parameters, including the STM, maximal water content (WCmax), and water holding capacity (WHC), were greater in the cyanolichens. In addition, the maximal Pn (Pnmax) and optimal water content (WCopt) for Pn were also greater in the cyanolichens, but the maximal Fv/Fm (Fv/Fmmax) was lower. The cyanolichens compensated for their inability to use humid air to restore photosynthesis by having higher water content and storage, higher photosynthetic rates, and longer photosynthetically active periods. This study provides additional insights into lichen ecophysiology in tropical forests that can be useful for lichen conservation.

A new species of Megalaria (Ramalinaceae, Ascomycota) from Thailand, and recognition of subgenus Catillochroma

Tropical regions harbor a substantial diversity of lichenized fungi, but face numerous threats to their persistence, often even before previously unknown species have been described and their evolutionary relationships have been elucidated. Megalaria (Ramalinaceae) is a lichen-forming genus of fungi that produces crustose thalli, and includes a number of lineages occupying tropical rain forests; however, taxonomic and phylogenetic work on this clade is limited. Here we leverage both morphological and sequence data to describe a new species from the tropics, M.pachaylenophila. This taxon forms a crustose thallus, lacks secondary metabolites, and occurs in mangrove forests of Thailand. We supplemented molecular data from this species with data from other species, including two genera related to and occasionally included in Megalaria, namely Catillochroma and Lopezaria. Our analyses revealed Catillochroma species form a monophyletic group embedded within Megalaria, and we therefore recognize this clade at the subgeneric level. Since we only included the type species of Lopezaria in this study, we refrain from proposing a taxonomic conclusion for that clade at the moment. Several taxonomic combinations are made to reflect phylogenetic evidence supporting the inclusion of these species in Megalaria.

Additions to the lichenized and lichenicolous fungi of Jammu & Kashmir from Kishtwar High Altitude National Park

The present study reports 14 lichenized and two lichenicolous fungi new to the mycota of Jammu & Kashmir. The lichenized fungi are Buellia aeruginascens (Nyl.) Zahlbr., Caloplaca pachycheila Poelt & Hinter., Cladonia cervicornis ssp. verticillata (Hoffm.) Ahti, Hafellia curatellae (Malme) Marbach, Hafellia subnexa Marbach, Hafellia tetrapla (Nyl.) Pusswald, Leptogium askotense D.D.Awasthi, Nephromopsis laii (A. Thell & Randlane) Saag & A.Thell, Polycauliona phlogina (Ach.) Arup, Frödén & Søchting, Pyxine cognata Stirt., Rinodina conradii Körb., Rinodina intermedia Bagl., Rinodina oxydata (A.Massal.) A.Massal., and Squamulea squamosa (B.deLesd.) Arup, Søchting & Frödén. The lichenicolous fungi include Abrothallus microspermus Tul. and Lichenoconium lecanorae (Jaap) D.Hawksw. The species are enumerated along with their present distribution.

Naphthoquinones From Cultured Mycobiont of Marcelaria cumingii (Mont.) and Their Cytotoxicity

Five naphthoquinones including 4 compounds with new absolute configurations, (–)-2' S-trypethelone methyl ether (1), (–)-2' S-8-methoxytrypethelone methyl ether (2), (–)-(2' S,3' S)-4'-hydroxytrypethelone (3), and (–)-(2' S,3' R)-4'-hydroxy-8-methoxy trypethelone methyl ether (5), together with a known compound, (–)-2' S-trypethelone (4), were isolated from cultured mycobiont of Marcelaria cumingii. These compounds were structurally elucidated by high-resolution mass spectra, nuclear magnetic resonance, circular dichroism, optical rotation, and single-crystal X-ray analysis. The cytotoxicity against several cancer cell lines of the isolated compounds were tested. (–)-2' S-Trypethelone methyl ether (1) showed selective inhibition of HCT116 and A549 cell lines with half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of 0.32 ± 0.03 and 1.05 ± 0.12 µM, respectively. The binding conformation and molecular interactions including the effect of substituent modification were also revealed.

A regional study of the genus Phyllopsora (Ramalinaceae) in Asia and Melanesia

Phyllopsora is a crustose to squamulose lichen genus inhabiting the bark of trees in moist tropical forests and rainforests. Species identification is generally challenging and is mainly based on ascospore morphology, thallus morphology and anatomy, vegetative dispersal units, and on secondary chemistry. While regional treatments of the genus have been conducted for Africa, South America and Australia, there exists no study focusing on the Asian and Melanesian species. Previously, 24 species of Phyllopsora s. str. have been reported from major national studies and checklists representing 13 countries. We have studied herbarium material of 625 Phyllopsora specimens from 18 countries using morphology, anatomy, secondary chemistry, and molecular data to investigate the diversity of Phyllopsora species in Asia and Melanesia. We report the occurrence of 28 species of Phyllopsora including the following three species described as new to science: P.sabahana from Malaysia, P.siamensis from Thailand and P.pseudocorallina from Asia and Africa. Eight species are reported as new to Asia. A key to the Asian and Melanesian species of Phyllopsora is provided.

Architrypethelium murisporum (Ascomycota, Trypetheliaceae), a remarkable new lichen species from Thailand challenging ascospore septation as an indicator of phylogenetic relationships

Architrypetheliummurisporum Luangsuphabool, Lumbsch & Sangvichien is described for a crustose lichen occurring in dry evergreen forest in Thailand. It is characterised by a green to yellow-green corticated thallus, perithecia fused in black pseudostromata with white rim surrounding the ostiole and small, hyaline and muriform ascospores. Currently, all species in the genus Architrypethelium have transversely septate ascospores, hence the discovery of this new species indicates that ascospore septation is variable within the genus, similar to numerous other groups of lichen-forming ascomycetes. Phylogenetic analyses of two loci (mtSSU and nuLSU) supported the position of the new species within Architrypethelium. This is the first report of the genus in Southeast Asia.

Architrypethelium murisporum (Ascomycota, Trypetheliaceae), a remarkable new lichen species from Thailand challenging ascospore septation as an indicator of phylogenetic relationships

Architrypetheliummurisporum Luangsuphabool, Lumbsch & Sangvichien is described for a crustose lichen occurring in dry evergreen forest in Thailand. It is characterised by a green to yellow-green corticated thallus, perithecia fused in black pseudostromata with white rim surrounding the ostiole and small, hyaline and muriform ascospores. Currently, all species in the genus Architrypethelium have transversely septate ascospores, hence the discovery of this new species indicates that ascospore septation is variable within the genus, similar to numerous other groups of lichen-forming ascomycetes. Phylogenetic analyses of two loci (mtSSU and nuLSU) supported the position of the new species within Architrypethelium. This is the first report of the genus in Southeast Asia.