Yoshihito Ohmura

Genetic combinations of symbionts in a vegetatively reproducing lichen, Parmotrema tinctorum, based on ITS rDNA sequences

Abstract The genetic combinations between mycobionts and photobionts in Parmotrema tinctorum collected from ca. 60 km2 of the Shimizu district, of Shizuoka City in Japan was investigated based on ITS rDNA sequences. This lichen produces apothecia quite rarely, and in principle propagates vegetatively by isidia. The genetic diversity of the mycobiont comprised four types, while that of the photobiont comprised 21 types. There were 28 different combinations between mycobiont and photobiont. All the photobionts were identified as Trebouxia corticola (s. lat.), based on both molecular phylogenetic results and morphological observation of culture strains obtained in this study. Therefore, P. tinctorum is considered to be highly selective toward the photobiont. The 28 combinations from the small area represent an unexpectedly high diversity, because P. tinctorum is thought to propagate vegetatively. Four possible mechanisms to account the high genetic combinations are suggested: i.e., photobiont exchange, fusion of thalli, and long-distance dispersal of isidia or ascospores. The genetic diversity of photobionts was poor in the urban area, but rich in suburbs and mountainsides. This might be caused by a bottleneck or founder effect in the population recovering from former damage by heavy air pollution, or variable selectivity of P. tinctorum depending on the environments.

Taxonomic status of section Neuropogon in the genus Usnea elucidated by morphological comparisons and ITS rDNA sequences

The taxonomic position of the Neuropogon group, as inferred from the morphology of representative species of the group and ITS sequences from Usnea antarctica and U. sphacelata , is discussed. Morphological observations revealed that the Neuropogon group does not have annular-pseudocyphellae, which are characteristic of the subgenus Dolichousnea , or a fistulose axis, which is characteristic of the subgenus Eumitria . In addition, the hypothecium of Neuropogon is thin, and the iodine reaction in the axis is negative. These features are consistent with those of the subgenus Usnea . Within the subgenus Usnea , Neuropogon is morphologically distinct from sections Usnea and Ceratinae (i.e. having a sphacelata -type cortex, black pigmentation of the upper thallus and a dark brown apothecial disc). The molecular data suggest that U. antarctica and U. sphacelata are members of the subgenus Usnea and are less closely related to subgenera Dolichousnea and Eumitria . The morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis suggest that the Neuropogon group is a member of the subgenus Usnea at the level of a section, and the appropriate name for this group is subgenus Usnea section Neuropogon (Nees & Flot.) Mont.

Lichenicolous Fungi from Japan and Korea: New Species, New Records and a First Synopsis for Japan

Abstract: Zhurbenko, M. P., Frisch, A., Ohmura, Y. & Thor, G. 2015. Lichenicolous fungi from Japan and Korea: new species, new records and a first synopsis for Japan. — Herzogia 28: 762–789. Sixty six species of lichenicolous fungi are reported from Japan and eight species from South Korea. The new genus Caeruleoconidia is introduced, and four species, Caeruleoconidia ochrolechiae, Diplolaeviopsis japonica, Perigrapha lobariae and Skyttea ochrolechiae, are described as new to science. The new combination Lichenosticta lecanorae is introduced and a neotype designated for this taxon. Buelliella cf. inops, Cercidospora stenotropae, Cladophialophora parmeliae, Endococcus cf. brachysporus, Lichenosticta lecanorae, Micarea inquinans, Minutoexcipula cf. mariana, Protounguicularia nephromatis, Polycoccum hymeniicola, Stigmidium alectoriae and Tephromela campestricola are new to Asia, another 18 species are second reports for Asia. Sixty-one species are new to Japan and eight species new to South Korea. Nephroma is a new host genus for Hainesia aeruginascens and Vulpicida for Muellerella lichenicola. A first synopsis of the lichenicolous fungi of Japan including 95 species is presented, which presumably covers less than 30 % of the total diversity of lichenicolous fungi in that country.

Activity concentrations of radionuclides in lichens following the Fukushima nuclear accident

The activity concentration of 131I, 134Cs and 137Cs radionuclides in lichens was traced one and a half months after the Fukushima nuclear accident. The samples were collected in Tsukuba City, which is located c. 170 km south of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (NPP). The activity concentrations differed depending on species and habitat. For example, the maximum activity concentration of 137Cs was 22596 Bq kg–1 dry weight in Physcia orientalis (collected from the trunk of Zelkova serrata on 30 June 2011), and 1928 Bq kg–1 in Hyperphyscia crocata (from the trunk of Quercus myrsinaefolia collected on 8 March 2012). The activity concentration of 137Cs in Dirinaria applanata and Phaeophyscia spinellosa growing on vertical habitats decreased by c. 50% within a year, indicating radionuclides might have been washed off by rain. The radionuclides were apparently derived from the Fukushima NPP accident because: 1) one specimen collected at the same place one year before the accident did not contain radionuclides, 2) high activity concentrations of radionuclides were detected after the accident, 3) 131I, which has a short half-life of 8 days, was detected one and a half months after the accident, and 4) the ratio of 134Cs/137Cs in lichens was 0·90–0·98 on 26 April 2011, which is consistent with the values reported for radiocesium from the Fukushima NPP accident.

137Cs concentrations in foliose lichens within Tsukuba-city as a reflection of radioactive fallout from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

(137)Cs concentrations in ten species of foliose lichens collected within Tsukuba-city in August 2013 ranged from 1.7 to 35 kBq/kg. The relationships between (137)Cs in two dominant species, Dirinaria applanata and Physcia orientalis, and the air dose rate (μSv/h) at the sampling sites were investigated. (137)Cs in P. orientalis measured about 1 year after the Fukushima nuclear accident was correlated (r(2) = 0.80) more closely with the air dose rate than those measured after about 2 years (r(2) = 0.65), possibly demonstrating its continued value as a biomonitor to reflect ambient fall-out levels. In contrast, those of Dirinaria applanata were not correlated with the air dose rate in either year.

Protothelenella sphinctrinoides (Protothelenellaceae) New to Japan and New Chemical Features for Several Species in the Genus

Abstract: Ohmura, Y. & Mayrhofer, H. 2016. Protothelenella sphinctrinoides (Protothelenellaceae) new to Japan and new chemical features for several species in the genus. — Herzogia 29: 137–142. Protothelenella sphinctrinoides is newly reported for Japan (Hokkaido and central Honshu). It is a bryophilous lichen in arctic-alpine to boreal-montane and circumpolar regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Japanese collections were found on the bryophytes Andreaea rupestris var. fauriei, Cephalozia otaruensis, Dicranum viride var. hakkodense and Jungermannia sp. growing on soil or rock in alpine areas. Although no chemical substance has been reported for this species previously, an unidentified substance that can react C+ red was detected in all specimens collected in Europe and Japan. Other species of Protothelenella which also give a C+ red reaction are discussed.

Photobiont diversity within populations of a vegetatively reproducing lichen, Parmotrema tinctorum, can be generated by photobiont switching

Photobiont diversity within populations of a vegetatively reproducing lichen can be generated by photobiont switching between the original lichen photobiont and the compatible algal partners on its surrounding substrate. The hypothesis was tested using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) with a partial rbcL sequence amplified from thalli of Parmotrema tinctorum and from the substrate immediately adjacent to each thallus. On the surface of tombstones where P. tinctorum was growing, only various haplotypes of Trebouxia corticola (s. lat.) that is characterized by having distinct starch sheaths surrounding the pyrenoid were detected. DGGE could detect one to five bands of T. corticola (s. lat.) haplotypes on each substrate, and one (or rarely two) of them was often identical with the photobiont haplotype of P. tinctorum growing on the same tombstone. Through PCR screening directed at a fungal rDNA fragment, many substrate samples were found to be free of microscopic contamination from P. tinctorum. Individual algal haplotypes from the substrate were identified by sequencing of the DGGE rbcL bands and compared to the corresponding sequences of the P. tinctorum photobionts. The presence of compatible algae on the lichen substrate and the genetic identity between some of the substrate algae and those in the lichen suggest the possibility of photobiont switching in vegetatively reproducing lichens like P. tinctorum. The following observations also support the phenomenon of photobiont switching: 1) high genetic diversity of photobiont in small populations; 2) multiple photobionts in a single thallus; 3) incomplete correspondence in co-phylogenetic analyses between mycobiont and photobiont; and 4) clear selectivity for photobiont in diverse lichens.

Perigrapha cetrariae, a new lichenicolous ascomycete on Cetraria from Japan

Perigrapha cetrariae growing on Cetraria laevigata is described from Japan. The new species differs from the generic type in having loculi completely embedded in a stroma and ascospores without caudate appendages.

Candelariella blastidiata sp. nov. (Ascomycota, Candelariaceae) from Eurasia and North America, and a key for grey thalli Candelariella

Candelariella blastidiata Yakovchenko sp. nov. is described. This corticolous species is characterized by biatorine yellow apothecia, a grey squamulose thallus with marginal and lower side blastidia, 8-spored asci, and a northern circumpolar distribution. Candelariella subdeflexa has previously been confused with C. blastidiata , but our analyses of phenotypic and DNA sequence data revealed C. blastidiata should be distinguished from C. subdeflexa . A worldwide key for Candelariella species with grey thalli is provided.

Dactylospora anziae, a new lichenicolous ascomycete on Anzia from East Asia

Dactylospora anziae growing on species of Anzia is described from Russia and Japan.