Message - 7th IAL Symposium

Lichen: from genome to ecosystem in a changing world
2I-P
(2I-P5) Submission ID: IAL0163-00001
GENETIC DIVERSITY OF SPECIMENS AND THEIR CULTURED MYCOBIONTS
OF CLADONIA VULCANI
Yoshitani A. 1 , Fujiwara T. 1 , Hara K. 1 , Komine M. 1 , Yamamoto Y. 1
1 Graduate School of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita, Japan
Lichen mycobionts can be isolated by two culture methods of their ascospores or tissues (thallus fragments).
The tissue culture method was described as follows. It used one or a few thallus fragments. After washing
and homogenizing they were divided into segments having the size from 150 to 500 µm. The segments
were placed on agar plates of malt-yeast extract (MY) medium at 18°C. After 8 months they were harvested. We
previously found that cultured mycobionts obtained from podetia of Cladonia spp. by the tissue culture method
showed the wide variety of colors and forms. Therefore, we investigated the genetic diversity distributed in specimens
and their cultured mycobionts of Cladonia vulcani collected at four sites in the same area in Akita, Japan.
We analyzed sequences of the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer in each four podetia collected at four
sites and decided their genotypes. It was proved that the composition of genotypes is different between each
collecting site and there were a few genotypes in the same site. Consequently, we confirmed that C. vulcani in
tested area had seven haplotypes. Besides, we divided two half parts of up- and down-sides of each four podetia
collected at the same site and subjected to the DNA analysis. We found the up-side half parts and the down-side
half parts were same genotype from same one podetium. Cut podetia in half lengthwise collected at four sites.
The half lengthwise parts were subjected to the DNA analysis. Other parts were done to the tissue culture and
were subjected to the DNA analysis. We found same genotypes between podetium and tissue culture from same
one podetium. Cultured mycobionts we obtained showed three colors, violet-blue, flesh-color and brown. We
supposed that the colors of cultured mycobionts were not dependent from their genotypes.
(2I-P6) Submission ID: IAL0168-00001
THE YEAST-TO MYCELIAL-PHASE TRANSITIONS OF A LICHEN-FORMING
FUNGUS UMBILICARIA MUEHLENBERGII
Luo H. 1 , Qiu Z. 2 , Hur J. 3
1 Korean Lichen Research Institute, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
2 College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Shandong, jinan, People’s Republic of China
3 Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, Sunchon, Korea
Umbilicaria muehlenbergii is the first discovered lichenized fungus with. It exists as mycelium at the
symbiotic state, and as yeast at the free living state. Among the hundreds of cultures of the yeast on petri-dish in
our lab, one yeast colony transited to mycelial-form on one plate. However, whether this transition is accidental
or inevitable, and what are the factors to induce this transition are still unclear. In order to find out some clues,
the present study was designed. The yeast form fungus was cultured under different conditions, including different
temperatures, illuminations, with or without algae for one month. The results indicated that, the alternative
temperature had a remarkable effect on the growth of the yeast and the transition to mycelial phase. Yeast grows
quickly under 15°C, while did not grow at 25°C. However all yeast transited to mycelium under the alternative
temperature (15°C 12 h/25°C 12 h). Under the alternative temperature, high density of illumination inhibited the
growth of mycelium; 1 min of UV exposure increased the growth of mycelium. Co-culture with photobiont algae
improved the growth of both bionts and induced the transition from yeast to mycelium. The results suggested
that, the yeast-to mycelial-phase transition of lichen-forming fungus U. muehlenbergii is inevitable under some
certain conditions such as the alternative temperature and the co-culture with photobiont. These feathers are
relatively similar with those of some animal or plant pathogenic fungi, suggesting a close relationship or a common
basis to the development of the two morphologies between lichenized fungi and pathogenic fungi.
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