Alcobiosis, an algal‑fungal association on the threshold of lichenisation
- Author:
- Vondrák J., Svoboda S., Zíbarová L., Štenclová L., Mareš J., Pouska V., Košnar J. & Kubásek J.
- Year:
- 2023
- Journal:
- Scientific Reports
- Pages:
- 13: 2957 [13 p.]
- Url:
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29384-4
Alcobiosis, the symbiosis of algae and corticioid fungi, frequently occurs on bark and wood. Algae
form a layer in or below fungal basidiomata reminiscent of the photobiont layer in lichens. Identities
of algal and fungal partners were confrmed by DNA barcoding. Algal activity was examined using gas
exchange and chlorophyll fuorescence techniques. Carbon transfer from algae to fungi was detected
as 13C, assimilated by algae, transferred to the fungal polyol. Nine fungal partners scattered across
Agaricomycetes are associated with three algae from Trebouxiophycae: Coccomyxa sp. with seven
fungal species on damp wood, Desmococcus olivaceus and Tritostichococcus coniocybes, both with a
single species on bark and rain-sheltered wood, respectively. The fungal partner does not cause any
obvious harm to the algae. Algae enclosed in fungal tissue exhibited a substantial CO2 uptake, but
carbon transfer to fungal tissues was only detected in the Lyomyces-Desmococcus alcobiosis where
some algal cells are tightly enclosed by hyphae in goniocyst-like structures. Unlike lichen mycobionts,
fungi in alcobioses are not nutritionally dependent on the algal partner as all of them can live without
algae. We consider alcobioses to be symbioses in various stages of co-evolution, but still quite
diferent from true lichens.
- Id:
- 35189
- Submitter:
- zpalice
- Post_time:
- Wednesday, 01 March 2023 01:20