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Lichenochora

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Lichenochora
Lichenochora obscuroides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Sordariomycetes
Order: Phyllachorales
Family: Phyllachoraceae
Genus: Lichenochora
Hafellner (1989)
Type species
Lichenochora thallina
(Cooke) Hafellner (1989)
Synonyms[1]
  • Laestadia [unranked] Paralaestadia Sacc. & D.Sacc. (1905)
  • Paralaestadia (Sacc. & D.Sacc.) Vain. (1921)

Lichenochora is a genus of fungi in the family Phyllachoraceae. It has 44 species.[2] All species in the genus are lichenicolous, meaning they grow parasitically on lichens.[3] The genus was circumscribed by Josef Hafellner in 1989, with Lichenochora thallina assigned as the type species.[4]

Description

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Lichenochora fungi form tiny, flask-shaped reproductive structures called perithecia that are typically 0.15-0.3 mm in diameter. The perithecia are embedded within small swellings or galls that they cause to form in their host lichen's body (thallus). Only the dark-coloured openings of these structures are visible on the surface.[4]

The walls of the perithecia are brown in colour and made up of several layers of flattened cells. Inside each perithecium are microscopic sac-like structures called asci, which contain the fungal spores. A distinctive feature of Lichenochora is that each ascus contains either four or eight spores, depending on the species. The spores themselves are colourless (hyaline) and divided into two cells.[4]

Another characteristic feature is the presence of numerous oil droplets (lipid droplets) within various parts of the fungal structure, including the spores and the tissue surrounding them. The genus also has specialised filaments called periphyses around the opening of the perithecia, which often have swollen outer walls and may be slightly brown at the tips.[4]

All known species of Lichenochora are highly specific about which lichens they parasitise, with most species only growing on particular genera or species of lichens. They show an particular preference for lichens in the family Physciaceae. While these fungi are technically parasites, they typically do not severely damage their host lichens, though they may cause some localised tissue death and discolouration where they grow. The species in the can be distinguished from each other by characteristics such as spore size and shape, the number of spores per ascus, and which lichen species they parasitise.[4]

Genera

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As of February 2025, Species Fungorum (in teh Catalogue of Life) accept 47 species of Lichenochora:[5]

Lichenochora weillii

References

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  1. ^ "Synonymy: Lichenochora Hafellner, Nova Hedwigia 48(3-4): 358 (1989)". Species Fungorum. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. ^ Wijayawardene, N.N.; Hyde, K.D.; Dai, D.Q.; Sánchez-García, M.; Goto, B.T.; Saxena, R.K.; et al. (2022). "Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa – 2021". Mycosphere. 13 (1): 53–453. doi:10.5943/mycosphere/13/1/2. hdl:1854/LU-8754813.
  3. ^ Diederich, Paul; Lawrey, James D.; Ertz, Damien (2018). "The 2018 classification and checklist of lichenicolous fungi, with 2000 non-lichenized, obligately lichenicolous taxa". The Bryologist. 121 (3): 340–425. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-121.3.340.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hafellner, J. (1989). "Studien über lichenicole Pilze und Flechten. VII. Über die neue Gattung Lichenochora (Ascomycetes, Phyllachorales)". Nova Hedwigia (in German). 48 (3–4): 357–370.
  5. ^ "Lichenochora". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  6. ^ Halici, Mehmet Gökhan; Knudsen, Kerry; Candan, Mehmet (2009). "Lichenochora atrans (Phyllachoraceae), a new lichenicolous species on Psora decipiens from Turkey". Mycotaxon. 109 (1): 239–243. doi:10.5248/109.239.
  7. ^ Zhurbenko, Mikhail P.; Brackel, Wolfgang von (2013). "Checklist of lichenicolous fungi and lichenicolous lichens of Svalbard, including new species, new records and revisions". Herzogia. 26 (2): 323–359. doi:10.13158/heia.26.2.2013.323.
  8. ^ a b Navarrorosines, P. (2001). "Lichenochora epinashii sp. nov. y L. sinapispermae sp. nov. (Phyllachorales, ascomicetes), dos nuevos hongos liquenícolas sobre Caloplaca" [Lichenochora epinashii sp. nov. and L. sinapispermae sp. nov. (Phyllachorales, Ascomicetes), two new lichenicolous fungi growing in Caloplaca]. Cryptogamie, Mycologie (in Spanish). 22 (2): 147–149. doi:10.1016/s0181-1584(01)80006-3.
  9. ^ Calatayud, Vicent; Navarro-Rosinés, Pere; Calvo, Esperanza (2000). "Lichenochora mediterraneae (Phyllacorales, Ascomycota) a new lichenicolous fungus from Spain". The Lichenologist. 32 (3): 225–231. doi:10.1006/lich.1999.0267.
  10. ^ Etayo, Javier; Flakus, Adam; Kukwa, Martin; Flakus, Pamela Rodriguez (2013). "Lichenochora tertia (Phyllachorales): the third species of the genus growing on Xanthoria elegans". Mycotaxon. 123 (1): 9–13. doi:10.5248/123.9.
  11. ^ Zhurbenko, Mikhail (2008). "Lichenochora thorii (Phyllachorales), a new lichenicolous ascomycete from Europe". Nova Hedwigia. 87 (3–4): 509–512. doi:10.1127/0029-5035/2008/0087-0509.
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