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Lichens (Physcia) New

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285 views27 pages

Lichens (Physcia) New

Uploaded by

abdullahjavid195
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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LICHENS

 A lichen is a composite organism that emerges from algae or


cyanobacteria living among filaments of a fungus in a mutually
beneficial (symbiotic) relationship.
 In this relation algae and fungi mutually associated with each
other.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
 Association of Mycobiont (Fungi) + Photobiont (usually either a green algae or
cyanobacteria)
 Lichens form colored patches on tree barks, rocks and soil. Coloration is usually
determined by the photosynthetic component.
 Special pigments, such as yellow usnic acid, give lichens a variety of colors,
including reds, oranges, yellows, and browns, especially in exposed, dry
habitats.
Cont…

 In the absence of special pigments, lichens are usually bright green to


olive gray when wet, gray or grayish-green to brown when dry

 The mycobiont part of the Lichen provides the necessary substratum and
also aids in the assimilation of moisture, micro and macronutrients for the
photosynthetic partner to grow and in turn receives the carbohydrates for
their metabolic activity.
HABITAT
 They grow in diverse climatic conditions and on diverse substrates.

 The ability to quickly absorb and retain water from many sources

 This makes it possible for lichens to live in harsh environments like deserts and

polar regions, and on exposed surfaces like bare rocks, walls, roofs, tree branches

and manmade substrata like glass, metals etc.


Based on the substrate of growing, the lichens can be broadly classified as:
Classification of lichens on the basis of
morphology

 Crustose lichen

 Foliose lichen

 Fruticose lichen
Crustose lichens (Microlichen)
 Crustose lichen form a crust that strongly adheres to the substrate by their entire
lower surface.
 The thallus usually lacks rhizines (root like structure).
 So thin that they often appear to be part of the substrate on which they are
growing.
 Colors : yellow, orange, red, gray or green.
Your text here

Acarospora socialis Lecanora dispersa Lepraria incana


Foliose lichen
(Macrolichen)
 They are also called as leafy lichens.
 The thallus in this case is loosely attached to the substratum at least at the
margin.

Foliose lichen
Physcia Parmotrema perlatum Xanthoria
Fruticose lichens (shrubby)
 These are hair like, shrubby, finger like or strap shaped.
 lichen thallus is attached to the substratum at one point and remaining major
portion is either growing erect or hanging.
Cladonia rangiferina Letharia vulpina Usnea
(Wolf lichen)
Physcia

Taxonomic
Classification
 Order: Lacanorales
 Family: Physciaceae
 Genus: Physcia
Habitat

 Physcia are nitrogen loving


 Thrive in polluted air environments
 Found in polluted cities mainly along roadside
Physcia

 It is a foliose lichen
 Fungal partner belongs to Ascomycota and
algal partner is from green algae
 Also called Ascolichen
 Rhizines are present for attachment to the
substratum
Structure of Thallus

Upper cortex

Algal zone

Loose fungal hyphae

Lower cortex (Compact fungal hyphae

Rhizines (attachment structure)


Life Cycle: Reproduction

 It involves following methods:

 Vegetative reproduction
 Asexual reproduction
 Sexual reproduction
Vegetative Reproduction

 Fragmentation: Thallus gets broken down into fragments and each fragment develops
into new lichen body.

 By soredia formation: Soredia are formed as white pustules on the upper surface of
thallus and germinate into new thallus upon detachment
Soredia
Asexual Reproduction

 Pycnidia or Pycnidiospores
 In physcia thallus, flask shaped pycnidia
are presesnt
 Small rounded, unicellular spores called
pycnidiospores are produced in pycnidia
Sexual Reproduction

 Apothecium: Sexual reproduction takes place by the formation of cup shaped


fruiting body called apothecium inside these septate ascospores are produced
Cont….

 Ascogonium:
 These are female reproductive organ
 It develops from hypha deep in algal layer
 It is a long multicellular hypha, its base is coiled and called oogonium and straight
portion above is trichogyne
 More than one ascogonium may develop but only one gets fertile
Cont…
Cont…

 Spermogonium:
 This is male reproductive body
 Flask shaped cavity
 Opens to exterior by ostiole
 Inner lining of spermogoium is fertile hypha that produces
spermatia
 Spermatia are functional male gametes
Fertilization

 Spermatia are carried to the female receptive hypha and the wall of contact b/w two gets
dissolved
 Male nucleus migrates into oogonium
 Male and female nucleus arrange themselves at the periphery of the wall
 From the wall of oogonium, development of ascogenous hyphae starts
 Diploid nucleus starts to divide and moves toward ascogenous hyphae that becomes
septate
 Karyogamy takes place in ascus mother cell
 8 ascospores are formed which germinate later

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