Planta Med 2020; 86(13/14): 960-966
DOI: 10.1055/a-1045-1989
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers

Endolichenic fungal diversity associated with some lichens of the Western Ghats

Meenavalli Babu Govinda Rajulu
1   Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology (VINSTROM), Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Chennai, India
,
Nagamani Thirunavukkarasu
2   PG & Research Department of Botany, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai, India
,
Subramanya Shravan Kumar
3   Divecha Centre for Climate Change & Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
,
Tanveer Kaur
4   Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala, Punjab, India
,
Mondem Sudhakara Reddy
4   Department of Biotechnology, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala, Punjab, India
,
Trichur Subramanian Suryanarayanan
1   Vivekananda Institute of Tropical Mycology (VINSTROM), Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Chennai, India
› Author Affiliations
Supported by: University Grants Commission F. MRP- 6366/16 (UGC- SERO)

Abstract

A total of 389 strains of fungi belonging to 38 species were isolated from 10 lichen species of the Western Ghats, southern India. All the lichens screened, irrespective of their growth forms or location, harboured endolichenic fungi. Most of the fungi belonged to the Ascomycotina. Chaetomium sp. 1, Hypoxylon investiens, Nemania bipapillata, Nodulisporium sp., Paecilomyces sp., and Sporormiella intermedia were the most common ones and were present in 5 or more lichen species. Of the 28 sporulating fungi, 7 belonged to Xylariales, and their total colonization frequency in all the lichens was also high. This observation further substantiates the high ecological amplitude of Xylariales, possibly due to overlapping ecological niches and their ability to inhibit co-occurring endolichenic fungi.



Publication History

Received: 04 September 2019

Accepted after revision: 05 November 2019

Article published online:
25 November 2019

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Stuttgart · New York

 
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