Microsatellite markers for Dictyochloropsis reticulata (Trebouxiophyceae), the symbiotic alga of the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria (L.)

Grande, Francesco Dal; Widmer, Ivo; Beck, Andreas; Scheidegger, Christoph

doi:10.1007/s10592-009-9904-2

Cited by 28 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Eight fungal-specific and seven algal-specific microsatellite markers were amplified from total lichen DNA (for RTL, RVZ and RXS seven fungal specific and seven alga specific markers were used) [42], [47]–[49]. Fragment lengths were detected on a 3730xl DNA Analyzer (Life Technologies), and electropherograms were analyzed with GENEMAPPER 3.7 (Life Technologies) using LIZ500 as size standard.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Basis of Self-Incompatibility in the Lichen-Forming Fungus Lobaria pulmonaria and Skewed Frequency Distribution of Mating-Type Idiomorphs: Implications for Conservation

et al. 2012

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Fungal populations that reproduce sexually are likely to be genetically more diverse and have a higher adaptive potential than asexually reproducing populations. Mating systems of fungal species can be self-incompatible, requiring the presence of isolates of different mating-type genes for sexual reproduction to occur, or self-compatible, requiring only one. Understanding the distribution of mating-type genes in populations can help to assess the potential of self-incompatible species to reproduce sexually. In the locally threatened epiphytic lichen-forming fungus Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm., low frequency of sexual reproduction is likely to limit the potential of populations to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Our study provides direct evidence of self-incompatibility (heterothallism) in L. pulmonaria. It can thus be hypothesized that sexual reproduction in small populations might be limited by an unbalanced distribution of mating-type genes. We therefore assessed neutral genetic diversity (using microsatellites) and mating-type ratio in 27 lichen populations (933 individuals). We found significant differences in the frequency of the two mating types in 13 populations, indicating a lower likelihood of sexual reproduction in these populations. This suggests that conservation translocation activities aiming at maximizing genetic heterogeneity in threatened and declining populations should take into account not only presence of fruiting bodies in transplanted individuals, but also the identity and balanced representation of mating-type genes.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Basis of Self-Incompatibility in the Lichen-Forming Fungus Lobaria pulmonaria and Skewed Frequency Distribution of Mating-Type Idiomorphs: Implications for Conservation

et al. 2012

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“…We also analyzed seven photobiont microsatellite loci (LPh1–LPh7) following Dal Grande et al [25]. We ran fragment analyses on an automated capillary sequencer (3130 Genetic Analyzer, Applied Biosystems, Rotkreuz, Switzerland), and typed alleles using an internal size standard (LIZ500, Applied Biosystems, Rotkreuz, Switzerland).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lichen Endozoochory by Snails

et al. 2011

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Endozoochory plays a prominent role for the dispersal of seed plants. However, for most other plant taxa it is not known whether this mode of dispersal occurs at all. Among those other taxa, lichens as symbiotic associations of algae and fungi are peculiar as their successful dispersal requires movement of propagules that leaves the symbiosis functional. However, the potential for endozoochorous dispersal of lichen fragments has been completely overlooked. We fed sterile thalli of two foliose lichen species (Lobaria pulmonaria and Physcia adscendens) differing in habitat and air-quality requirements to nine snail species common in temperate Europe. We demonstrated morphologically that L. pulmonaria regenerated from 29.0% of all 379 fecal pellets, whereas P. adscendens regenerated from 40.9% of all 433 fecal pellets, showing that lichen fragments survived gut passage of all snail species. Moreover, molecular analysis of regenerated lichens confirmed the species identity for a subset of samples. Regeneration rates were higher for the generalist lichen species P. adscendens than for the specialist lichen species L. pulmonaria. Furthermore, lichen regeneration rates varied among snail species with higher rates after gut passage of heavier snail species. We suggest that gastropods generally grazing on lichen communities are important, but so far completely overlooked, as vectors for lichen dispersal. This opens new ecological perspectives and questions the traditional view of an entirely antagonistic relationship between gastropods and lichens.

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“…Microsatellites are most useful for comparing closely related individuals and populations, although they have also in some cases been used to study populations situated on different continents, on a phylogeographic scale. The first microsatellite markers reported for lichens were developed for the mycobiont of Lobaria pulmonaria ; more recently, this method was also adopted for investigation of its green algal photobiont, Dictyochloropsis reticulata (Dal Grande et al 2009, 2012Widmer et al 2012). They offered a significant advantage over previous markers in providing a means by which a large number of individuals could be genotyped at a moderate cost per individual and have been employed successfully in studying genetic differentiation between populations and small-scale geographic variability within populations.…”

Section: Experimental Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%