AUTHOR=Kosecka Magdalena , Kukwa Martin , Jabłońska Agnieszka , Flakus Adam , Rodriguez-Flakus Pamela , Ptach Łucja , Guzow-Krzemińska Beata 

TITLE=Phylogeny and Ecology of Trebouxia Photobionts From Bolivian Lichens

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.779784

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.779784

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>In the past few years, new phylogenetic lineages in <italic>Trebouxia</italic> were detected as a result of molecular approaches. These studies included symbiont selectivity in lichen communities, transects along altitudinal gradients at local and global scales and the photobiont diversity in local populations of lichen-forming fungal species. In most of these studies, phylogenetic and haplotype analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) locus have continuously allowed the recognition of new monophyletic lineages, which suggests that still numerous undiscovered <italic>Trebouxia</italic> lineages can be hidden in lichens from unexplored areas, especially in the tropics. Here, we estimated the biodiversity of photobionts in Bolivian Andean vegetation and assessed their specificity. About 403 lichen samples representing 42 genera, e.g., <italic>Haematomma</italic>, <italic>Heterodermia</italic>, <italic>Hypotrachyna</italic>, <italic>Lecanora</italic>, <italic>Lepra</italic>, <italic>Leucodermia</italic>, <italic>Parmotrema</italic>, <italic>Pertusaria</italic>, <italic>Polyblastidium</italic>, and <italic>Usnea</italic>, containing <italic>Trebouxia</italic> photobionts, were analyzed. ITS ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and <italic>rbc</italic>L markers were used. We obtained <italic>Trebouxia</italic> sequences from Bolivian samples belonging to already described clades A, C, I, and S. Thirty-nine <italic>Trebouxia</italic> lineages were distinguished within these clades, while 16 were new. To reveal the structure of the community of Bolivian photobionts and their relationships with mycobionts, the comparative effects of climate, altitude, geographical distances, substrate, and habitat type, as well as functional traits of lichens such as growth forms, propagation mode and secondary metabolites, were analyzed. Furthermore, new Bolivian records were included in analysis on a global scale. In our study, the mycobiont genus or even species are the most important factors correlated with photobiont identity. Moreover, we revealed that the community of Bolivian photobionts is shaped by altitude.</p>