Project description:We used raw RNA-Seq data from the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria to analyze changes in gene expression in response to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) treatment. The aim of the present work was to unravel the UV-B-induced defense response in the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria based on physiological traits and transcriptional profiling. Here we analyzed gene expression in mycobionts (Lobaria pulmonaria) and photobionts (Symbiochloris reticulata) after 80 min daily application of UV-B treatment of Lobaria pulmonaria thalli for two weeks. Special attention was paid to the UV-B-induced expression of the genes encoding stress tolerance proteins (heat shock proteins, antioxidants, etc.) and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of photoprotective metabolites.
Project description:The Lobaria pulmonaria holobiont consists of algal, fungal, cyanobacterial, and integrated diverse bacterial components and thrives in undisturbed, humid forests. We set out to investigate the role of the microbiome of L. pulmonaria in the adaptation of this ecologically sensitive lichen species to diverse climatic conditions. Our central hypothesis posited that microbiome composition and functionality aligns with continental-scale climatic parameters related to temperature and precipitation. In addition, we tested whether short-term weather dynamics, sampling season, and the genotypes of the fungal and algal partners influenced the variation in the lichen microbiome. Insights into compositional and functional changes within the microbiome were obtained using metaproteomics. Comparative examinations between Sub-Atlantic Lowland (SAL) and Alpine (ALP) regions unveiled the distinct impact of climate on microbiome functions.
Project description:UNLABELLED: PREMISE OF THE STUDY:Microsatellite loci were developed for the threatened haploid lichen fungus Lobaria pulmonaria to increase the resolution to identify clonal individuals, and to study its population subdivision. • METHODS AND RESULTS:We developed 14 microsatellite markers from 454 DNA sequencing data of L. pulmonaria and tested for cross-amplification with L. immixta and L. macaronesica. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 23. Nei's unbiased gene diversity, averaged over loci, ranged from 0.434 to 0.517 in the three studied populations. • CONCLUSIONS:The new markers will increase the genetic resolution in studies that aim at disentangling clones in L. pulmonaria and may be useful for closely related species within Lobaria sect. Lobaria.