LICHENS

STRUCTURE AND
REPRODUCTION

G.Aswin
 LICHENS

INTRODUCTION:
o The intimate symbiotic association of fungi and algae is called lichens.
o Lichen is the best example for symbiosis – where both partners are beneficial to each
other
o The fungus holds water , provide protection
o The algae in return supplies food for the fungus.
 COMPOSITION OF LICHENS
THE MYCOBIANT:
§ The fungal component of lichens-MYCOBIANT
§ Ascomycotina (eg. Parmela,Graphis, peltigera)
§ Basidiomycotina ( Cora, Dictoynema,corella)
§
THE PHYCOBIANT:
§ The algal component of lichens-PHYCOBIANT
§ Cyanophyta (8 genera eg. Nostoc, Scytonema)
§ Chlorophyta ( 18 genera eg. Cladophora, trentipolia)
§ Xanthophyta & phaeophyta – 1 genera
 OCCURRENCE AND HABIT
• There is about 400 genera and 15,000 species of lichens are found in different region
of world.
v Tree bark, Decaying wood, Leaves, Branches, Soil rich humus, sand, stones and
rocks are the most usual habitats.
v Lichens which grows on stones are called SAXICOLES
v Lichens which grows on soil, hot climate TERRICOLES
v Lichens which grow on bark of trees are called CORTCOLES.
v Lichens which grow on wood are called LIGNICOLES.
v Few species are aquatic and , tundra ( cladonia rangiferina- raindeer moss)
 CLASSIFICATION
MILLER(1984) & ZAHLBRUCKNER (1926) classified lichen into 2 classes
ØAscolichens ( fungus belongs to ascomycotina)
Based on fruiting bodies it is apothecial and perithecial type.
ØBasidiolichens ( basidiomycotina – cora)
Later ALEXOPOULOS & MIMS (1979) into 3 classes
ØAscolichen, Basdiolichen
ØLichen imperfectic ( cromycia ,lepraria)
Based on the types of thallus
§ Crustose lichen
§ Foliose lichen
§ Fruitcose lichen
 EXTERNAL FORMS OF
LICHENS
vCRUSTOSE LICHENS
• Flattened thalli, closely attached to the rocks,tree
bark in the form of crusts.
• May be partially or completely embedded with the
substratum
e.g. Graphics, Rhizocarpon
v FOLIOSE LICHEN

• Thallus- flat, dorsiventral, expanded, leaf like

appearance with irregular margins.
• Attached to the substratum by rhizines.
eg. Physcia , Permellia
v FRUITCOSE LICHEN
• Thallus- flat or cyclindrical, branched .
• May be erect, hanging from branch
e.g cladonia, usnea
 INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF
q HOMOMEROUS :
LICHENS
Thallus show no differentiation into algal and fungal zones
as in crustose lichens and some foliose lichens like collema.

q HETEROMEROUS:
Thallus shows differentiation into algal and fungal zone( foliose
lichens(parmelia) – It show 4 distinct region
• Upper cortex
• Algal zone
• Medulla
• The lower cortex
INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF LICHENS
v UPPER CORTEX
• It is the upper most region ,compactly interwoven
fungal hyphae
• It is filled with gelatinois matrix.
• No intercellular space with fungal hyphae.
• Breathing pores to fascilate gaseous exchange.

v ALGAL LAYER
• It is also called gonidial layer
• It is made up of continuous or discontionus layer of
algal cells mixed with loose fungal layer,
• Photosynthetic in function.
• Algal members are Gloecapsa,Nostoc,chollerla.
v MEDULLA
• It is the middle portion of the thallus.
• It consists of thick walled lossely interwoven
fungal hyphae

vTHE LOWER CORTEX

• It is closely packed dark colour hypae
• It has a outgrowth called rhizines attached to the
substratum.
• Rhizines are simple or branched, unicellular or
multicellular
 SPECIAL VEGETATIVE
STRUCTURES

BREATHING PORES
CYPHELLA CEPHALODIA
• Found in upper cortex of • Small pit on lower cortex of • It is a wort like swelling on
foliose and fructiose foliose lichens e.g Sticta upper surface of thallus
lichens helps in gaseous • Which appear as cup like spot
exchange. E.g parmelia called cyphella,without any • It is with same fungal
definite border hyphae with different
• Lossely interwoven hyphae pseudocyphella algal partner
are present • Both Structure for aeration
 REPRODUCTION IN LICHENS
Lichens reproduce by three method
ØVEGETATIVE( Fragmentation, Rejuvenation. )
Ø
ØASEXUAL ( Soridia, Isidia, Pycinidiospores)

ØSexual ( Sex Organs)

 VEGETATIVE REPRODUCTION

ü FRAGMENTATION
• It occurs by breaking of thallus into small fragments.
• Each fragments growing into new thallus.
•
ü REJUVENTION
• By death and decay of posterior portion of thallus.
• Rejuvenation of branches into new thalli.
ü
 ASEXUAL
RERODUCTION
ü ISIDIA
• It Is a small stalked greyish-black coral like
outgrowth on upper surface of lichen thallus.
• It has algal and fungal partner,\
• Under favourable condition it detach from parent
thallus& grow into new thalli.
ü SORIDIUM
• It is minute,rounded, bud like outgrowth developed
on upper surface of thallus.
• Soridium consists of one or more algal cells
surrounded by fungal hyphae
• Detached and disseminate by wind & falling upon
suitable substratum to give new
plant. e.g parmelia physcia
•
ü PYCNIOSPORE
• In this lichens produce conidia inside the special
reproductive bodies called pycnidia
• Pycnidia is embedded in dorsal surface
• Pycnidia is flask shaped body open on upper
surface by means pore called ostiole.
•
•
 SEXUAL REPRODUCTION -
SEX ORGANS
FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGAN:​
• It is CARPAGONIUM which develops from hyphae deep in
algal layer.​
• It is long multicellular hyphae, the coiled in base of
oogonium​
• The straight portion above it the TRICHOGYNE.​
MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGAN:​
• It is SPERMAGONIUM, which is flask shaped cavity
immersed in thallus and opens by ostiole.​
• The spergonium produce large number of small non motile
gametes called SPERMATIA.​
 SEXUAL REPRODUCTION-
FERTILISATION
• The growing trichogyne comes in contact with spermatia .the walls
which contact is dissolve and male nucleus gradually passes
downward to oogonium, where it fuses with female nucleus of egg.
• Numerous branched septate ascogenous containing one or many nucli
developed from oogonium.
• Ascogenous developed into asci,
• The sterile hyphae is wall of ascocarp develop below ascogonium.
• On germination a spore produce a germ tube grow in all
direction,soon it contacts with algae
• Combined growth of algae and fungi continues and results in lichens.
•
 SEXUAL REPRODUCTION

• In ASCOLICHEN, the sexual reproduction is

performed by formation of apothecia.
• These fruiting bodies are small cup like embedded in
surface of thallus.
• The bottom cup or surface of disc is the fertile part
apothecium and lined by hymenium.
• Hymenium consists of asci and paraphyses growing
vertically.
• Each ascus consists of eight ascospores.
• IN BASIDOLICHENS reproduce by basidiospore on basidia as in basidiomycetes.
• Lower surface of thallus bears SUBHYMENIUM.
• Basidia arranged palisade on the lowermost face of subhymenium.
• Each basidium bears four basidospores at tips of sterigmata.
 ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF LICHENS
The lichens are useful for mankind in many ways:
Ø As Food :
Parmelia lichen-curry powder in india, Endocarpon miniatum- vegetable in
japan, Evernia prunastri –making bread in Egypt, In France some lichens are used in
prepartion of chocolates and pastries.
Ø As Fodder:
Ramalina traxinea, Evernia prunsastri are used as fodder for animals,
reindeer moss in tundra uses cladonia rangifera as food, dried lichens are feed to
horses and other animals.
Ø AS Medicine:
Lichens are medicinally important due to the presence of lichenein and
astringent substance, used in treatment of jaundice, diarrhoea,
fevers,epilepsy,hydrophobia and skin diseases.
§ Cetraria islandica - TB and lung diseases.
§ Cladonia pyxidata - whooping cough.
§ Usnic acid - Bacterial diseases.
(broad specturum Antibiotic obtained from usnea and cladonia)
• Xanthora parietina - jaundice
Some lichens used in ingredients of antiseptic creams,because having spasmolytic
and tumour- inhibiting properties.
 INDUSTRAIL USES
ü Tanning industry:
• Cetraria islandica , Lobaria pulmonaria- tanning leather.

ü Brewing industry:
• Lobara pulmonaria - Brewing of beer.
• Cladonia rangifernia - Alcohol production.

ü Dye prepartion:
• Dye used for colouring ie.red,blue,brown.
• Brown dye obtained from Parmelia omphalodes for wool and silk fabrics.
• Red and purple obtained from Ochrolechia androgyna.
• Blue dye obtained from cetraria islandica dyeing for woollen goods.
• Litmus ,acid base indicator dye- Rocella tinctoria , R. montagnei.
Ø Cosmetics and perfumery:
Lichens thallus has aromatic compounds used in cosmetics& perfumery.
Essential oil and manufacture of soap- Ramalina and Evernia sp..
Some lichens are used as ecologically importance:
• Pioneer of rock vegetation
• Absorb the accumulating radioactive substance
• Pollution indicators.
THANK YOU