Ascospore discharge, germination and culture of fungal partners of tropical lichens, including the use of a novel culture technique

A total of 292 lichen samples, representing over 200 species and at least 65 genera and 26 families, were collected, mainly in Thailand; 170 of the specimens discharged ascospores in the laboratory. Generally, crustose lichens exhibited the highest discharge rates and percentage germination. In contrast, foliose lichen samples, although having a high discharge rate, had a lower percentage germination than crustose species tested. A correlation with season was indicated for a number of species. Continued development of germinated ascospores into recognizable colonies in pure culture was followed for a selection of species. The most successful medium tried was 2 % Malt-Yeast extract agar (MYA), and under static conditions using a liquid culture medium, a sponge proved to be the best of several physical carriers tested; this novel method has considerable potential for experimental work with lichen mycobionts

LCA applied to perennial cropping systems: a review focused on the farm stage

International audienc

A new terricolous species of Gyalidea (Gomphillaceae, Ascomycota) from Fiji

Gyalidea vonkonratii sp. nov. is described from soil at road banks in the Fijian highlands. It is the fifth polyspored species of the genus. It differs from G. luzonensis and G. polyspora by the number of ascospores in asci, ascospore-size and -septation, and from G. multispora by larger ascospores. G. asteriscus differs in having smaller ascomata with recurved marginal lobes and smaller, 2-celled ascospores. Dibaeis absoluta is a new record for Fiji