Scientists from the MACS Agharkar Research
Institute (ARI), Pune, have discovered five new species of lichen-forming fungi
belonging to the genus Allographa in the Western Ghats
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Scientists from the MACS
Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, have discovered five new species of
lichen-forming fungi belonging to the genus Allographa in the Western Ghats.
¨
MACS Agharkar Research
Institute (ARI) is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and
Technology (DST).
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Allographa is a genus of
lichen-forming fungi studied in taxonomy, ecology, and biodiversity.
¨
Lichens are composite
organisms formed through a symbiotic association between a fungus and a
photosynthetic partner, usually an alga or cyanobacterium.
The five newly identified species are:
1. Allographa
keralensis
2.
Allographa nayakae
3.
Allographa paraconsanguinea
4.
Allographa
persistinspersa
5. Allographa
semicarbonisata
Allographa keralensis is named after Kerala.Allographa
nayakae has been named in honour of Indian lichenologist Dr. Sanjeeva
Nayaka.The researchers used traditional taxonomic methods along with molecular
phylogenetics for species identification.The study employed multi-locus DNA
sequencing using three genetic markers: mtSSU, nrLSU, and RPB2.The Western
Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's recognised
biodiversity hotspots.Lichens are widely used as bioindicators because they are
highly sensitive to air pollution and habitat changes.Multi-locus DNA
sequencing uses multiple genetic markers to identify species and study their
evolutionary relationships.The findings were published in the journal
Mycological Progress, which focuses on fungi and fungal taxonomy.
