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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2007; 9(3): 390-399
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-924654
Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Fine Structure and Phylogeny of Green Algal Photobionts in the Microfilamentous Genus Psoroglaena (Verrucariaceae, Lichen-Forming Ascomycetes)

S. Nyati1 , A. Beck2 , R. Honegger1
  • 1Institute of Plant Biology, University of Zürich, Zollikerstrasse 107, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
  • 2Botanische Staatssammlung München, Menzinger Straße 67, 80638 München, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: May 3, 2006

Accepted: September 6, 2006

Publication Date:
13 November 2006 (online)

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Abstract

According to the literature the microfilamentous thalli of lichen-forming ascomycetes of the genus Psoroglaena are assumed to harbour vivid green “prochlorophyte” cyanobacterial photobionts. As this would be the first report of terrestrial “prochlorophytes” we investigated the fine structure and two molecular markers (SSU rDNA and rbcL) of the photobionts of P. stigonemoides (Orange) Henssen and P. epiphylla Lücking. Both Psoroglaena spp. had unicellular green algal photobionts, representatives of the Trebouxiophyceae. The photobiont of P. stigonemoides is closely related to the non-symbiotic Auxenochlorella protothecoides and to a Chlorella endosymbiont of the freshwater polyp Hydra viridis. The putative photobiont of P. epiphylla may be related to Chlorella luteoviridis, C. saccharophila, and a Pseudochlorella isolate. In contrast to other microfilamentous lichens, which derive their shape from filamentous green algae or cyanobacterial colonies overgrown and ensheathed by the fungal partner, Psoroglaena mycobionts position their unicellular photobiont in uni- or multiseriate rows which strongly resemble the situation in filamentous cyanobacterial colonies.

Key words

Auxenochlorella protothecoides - Chlorella luteoviridis - prochlorophytes - Psoroglaena epiphylla - Psoroglaena stigonemoides - SSU rDNA - rbcL.

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R. Honegger

Institute of Plant Biology
University of Zürich

Zollikerstrasse 107

8008 Zürich

Switzerland

Email: rohonegg@botinst.unizh.ch

Editor: M. Sugita