Seventeen specimens of lichenicolous fungi of the genus Biatoropsis were found during the revision of 538 herbarium collections of the lichen genus Usnea in Belarus. Two Biatoropsis species were identified, Biatoropsis rubicundae (on Usnea ceratina) and B. usnearum (on U. florida, U. intermedia and U. subfloridana). Biatoropsis rubicundae is reported here as new to Belarus. Based on the studied material, morphological descriptions, ecological preferences and distribution data for the identified species are provided

Bolsun, Iryna

Tsurykau, Andrei

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Folia Cryptog. Estonica, Fasc. 62: 27–30 (2025)https://doi.org/10.12697/fce.2025.62.02The lichenicolous genus Biatoropsis (Tremellales, Basidiomycota) in BelarusIryna Bolsun1 & Andrei Tsurykau1,21 Francisk Skorina Gomel State University, Sovetskaja Str. 104, 246028, Gomel, Belarus2 Gomel State Medical University, Lange Str. 5, 246000, Gomel, BelarusE-mail: tsurykau@gmail.comAbstract: Seventeen specimens of lichenicolous fungi of the genus Biatoropsis were found during the revision of 538 herbarium collections of the lichen genus Usnea in Belarus. Two Biatoropsis species were identified, Biatoropsis rubicundae (on Usneaceratina) and B. usnearum (on U. florida, U. intermedia and U. subfloridana). Biatoropsis rubicundae is reported here as new to Belarus. Based on the studied material, morphological descriptions, ecological preferences and distribution data for the identified species are provided.Keywords: biodiversity, lichens, distribution, substrate, ecology, UsneaINTRODUCTIONThe genus Biatoropsis Räsänen comprises lichenicolous fungi of the Tremellomycetes that grow on thalli of the lichen genera Usnea Dill. ex Adans. and Protousnea (Motyka) Krog. Ini-tially, this genus was described as an unusual ascomycete resembling lichens of the genus Biatora, but later it was recognized as a repres-entative of the Basidiomycota (Diederich & Christiansen, 1994; Millanes et al., 2014, 2016).In Belarus, a single species, Biatoropsis usn-earum, was previously reported by Golubkov & Kobzar (2007) and Golubkov (2011). However, recent studies have shown that this taxon, pre-viously considered as common and cosmopol-itan, represents a complex of morphologically poorly distinguishable species (Diederich et al., 2022). Furthermore, as many herbarium speci-mens previously attributed to Biatoropsis usn-earum may belong to other taxa, the global dis-tribution and host selection of B. usnearum s. str. remain unclear. Therefore, the revision of available specimens of the genus Biatoropsis in Belarus seems to be an important task to assess its diversity, distribution and ecology within the country.MATERIAL AND METHODSFor this study, 538 lichen specimens of the genus Usnea collected in 1924–2018 and stored in herbaria of Francisk Skorina Gomel State University (GSU), V.F. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (MSK-L), Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (MSKH), Belarusian State University (MSKU) and Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (LE) were studied.The morphology and anatomy were studied using a Nikon SMZ-745 stereomicroscope and a Nikon Eclipse 80i light microscope. Microscopic char-acters were studied using hand-cut sections stained with Phloxin (1% in water) after pretreat-ment with KOH (5%), following the methods of Diederich (1996). Basidia and other structures were measured in aqueous preparations. Meas-urements of basidia and basidiospores are presented according to the following format: (minimum) (average – standard deviation) (av-erage + standard deviation) (maximum) and are accompanied by an indication of the number of measurements (n).The composition of secondary metabolites of host lichens was studied using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) in solvent C system (Orange et al., 2001).Morphological descriptions are based on Be-larusian material.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONDuring the revision of 538 herbarium collections of Usnea collected in Belarus, 17 specimens infected with Biatoropsis were found. Two spe-cies were identified, B. rubicundae Diederich & 28 Folia Cryptog. EstonicaMillanes (1 specimen), new to Belarus, and B. usnearum Räsänen s. str. (16 specimens).BIATOROPSIS RUBICUNDAE Diederich & MillanesBasidiomata convex, subspherical or flattened, soon with a narrowed base, up to 0.5 mm in diameter. Surface smooth, sometimes cartilagin-ous, light to dark brown. Basidia clavate to cylindrical, with 1–3 transverse septa, 25.5–31.5 × 4.0–5.0 μm (n=5), the lower cell attenuated. Basidiospores and conidia not observed in the Belarusian material.The much more common Biatoropsis usnearumdiffers by usually darker and larger basidiomes up to 1.5 mm in diameter as well as the host selection.Ecology. Biatoropsis rubicundae is confined to thalli of Usnea ceratina Ach., U. erinacea Vain. and U. rubicunda Stirt. (Diederich et al., 2022). The single Belarusian specimen was found on the thallus of Usnea ceratina. The host lichen was collected on the bark of Alnus glutinosa, under wet conditions.Distribution. Biatoropsis rubicundae has a wide geographical range and is known from Europe, North America, Africa and Oceania (Diederich et al., 2022). Here we report the species as new to Belarus, where it was found on the territory of the Belovezhskaja Puscha National Park (Figure 1A).Material examined. Belarus, Grodno region, Svisloch district, Belovezhskaja Puscha National Park, Oschepskoje forest, 120 quarter, 1 km north of the Rudnya village, 52°51'N, 24°35'E, on Usnea ceratina growing on Alnus glutinosa, 28.09.1984, V. V. Golubkov (GSU-2199).BIATOROPSIS USNEARUM RäsänenBasidiomata variable in shape, size and colour, mainly subspherical and convex with a constricted base, often with lobate margins, sometimes with a concave central part, surface smooth, rarely tuberculate, light or dark brown to black, (0.5–)0.6–1.0(–1.5) mm in diameter (n=40). Basidia clavate to cylindrical, with 1–3 transverse septa, (19.5–)20.7–27.1(–30.0) × (3.5–)3.8–4.6(–5.0) μm (n=34). Basidiospores spherical to ellipsoidal with a distinct apiculus, (5.5–)6.0–7.2(–8.0) × (5.5–)5.8–6.8(–7.5) μm (n=15). Conidia catenulate, cells (3.0–)3.2–4.0(–4.5) × (2.5–)2.7–3.3(–3.5) μm (n=20).Ecology. Biatoropsis usnearum s. str. is confined to various Usnea species, namely U. barbata (L.) F. H. Wigg., U. cavernosa Tuck., U. florida (L.) F. H. Wigg., U. glabrescens (Vain.) Räsänen, U. intermedia (A. Massal.) Jatta, U. subfloridanaStirt. (Diederich et al., 2022). In Belarus, it was found on Usnea florida (2 specimens), U. inter-media (1) and U. subfloridana (13 specimens).In Belarus, the species was collected in various plant communities, viz. coniferous, broadleaved and mixed forests. The hosts grew on Betula A BFig. 1. Distribution of Biatoropsis rubicundae (А) and B. usnearum (В) in Belarus (scale = 100 km).29pendula (6 specimens), Picea abies (3), Alnus glutinosa (3), Quercus robur (2) and Pinus sylvestris (2). No large differences were observed in the ecological preferences and substrate se-lectivity of host lichens and B. usnearum, with the exception for an increase in the proportion of infected specimens found in black alder forests on Alnus glutinosa (Figures 2, 3). According to Łubek et al. (2019), the species diversity and frequency of lichenicolous fungi may depend on the type of forest, the species of its constituent trees, and the substrate of host lichens due to their demands for high air humidity. In Belarus, Alnus glutinosa occurs mainly in humid and swampy communities, therefore our data are mainly congruent with the findings of Łubek et al. (2019).Distribution. The occurrence of Biatoropsis usnearum s. str. was confirmed for Europe and North America by Diederich et al. (2022). In Belarus, Biatoropsis usnearum is quite a rare species and is known from 16 localities, mainly in protected areas: Berezinsky Biosphere Re-serve, Belovezhskaja Puscha National Park and Narochansky National Park (Figure 1B).Materials examined. Belarus, Brest region, Kamenets district, Belovezhskaja Puscha National Park, Korolevo-Mostovskoje forest, 777 quarter, 52°35'N, 23°51'E, on Usnea subfloridana growing on the bark of Quercus robur, 18.07.1983, V. V. Golubkov (GSU-2200); same forest, 807 quarter, vicinity of Kamenyuki vil-lage, 52°33'N, 23°47'E, in Quercus forest on U. subfloridana growing on Q. robur, 11.07.1983, V. V. Golubkov (GSU-2201); Grodno region, Svisloch district, Belovezhskaja Puscha National Park, Svisloch forest, 120 quarter, 52°50'N, 24°02'E, in Alnus forest, on U. subfloridanagrowing on Alnus glutinosa, 28.09.1984, V. V. Golubkov (GSU-2211); Belovezhskaja Puscha National Park, Yazvinskoje forest, 71В quarter, close to Tikhovolya village, 52°50'N, 24°00'E, in Picea-Pinus forest on U. subfloridana growing on Betula pendula, 26.09.1984, V. V. Golubkov (GSU-2212); Minsk region, Miadzel district, Narochansky National Park, close to Riduplja village, 54°53'N, 26°34'E, in Picea forest on U.intermedia growing on Picea abies, 29.06.2005, A. P. Yatsyna, (MSKU, GSU-2213); close to Stepenyovo village, 54°53'N, 26°40'E, in Pinusforest on U. subfloridana growing on Pinus sylvestris, 11.07.1978, V. V. Golubkov (GSU-2215); Mogilev region, Osipovichi district, Tselsk forest, 23 quarter, close to Tsel village, 53°22'N, 28°27'E, on U. florida growing on B. pendula, 31.05.1968, N. V. Gorbach (GSU-2216); Vitebsk region, Lepel district, Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, Palik forest, 650 quarter, 11 subquarter, 54°35'N, 28°23'E, in Quercus-Populus forest on U. subfloridana growing on P. abies, 23.06.2008, P. N. Bely (GSU-2202); same place, on U. subfloridana growing on A. glutinosa, 06.08. 2008, P. N. Bely (GSU-2203); Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, on a road from Kraitsy village to Brody village, 54°39'N, 28°15'E, in mixed forest on U. subfloridana growing on B. pendula, 20.10.1962, N. V. Gorbach (GSU-2204); Berez-insky Biosphere Reserve, Kuty tract, 54°56'N, 28°15'E, in Pinus forest on U. subfloridanagrowing on B. pendula, 16.06.1968, N. V. Gorbach (GSU-2205); Berezinsky Biosphere Fig. 2. Ecological selectivity of Usnea species (outer circle) and Biatoropsis usnearum (inner circle) in BelarusFig. 3. Substrate selectivity of Usnea species (outer circle) and Biatoropsis usnearum (inner circle) in BelarusPinus forestPicea forestPopulus forestBetula forestQuercus forestAlnus forestMixed forestBetula pendulaPicea abiesAlnus glutinosaQuercus roburPinus sylvestrisCarpinus betuluswood (fence)Populus tremulaSalix albaAbies albaSorbus aucuparia30 Folia Cryptog. EstonicaReserve, Uvasok tract, 54°43'N, 28°15'E, in a native Betula forest on U. florida growing on B. pendula, 06.1963, N. V. Gorbach (GSU-2206); experimental forest hunting farm “Barsuki”, 56 quarter, 31 subquarter, 54°52'N, 28°09'E, in Pinus forest on U. subfloridana growing on P. sylvestris, 14.07.2009, P. N. Bely (GSU-2207); the same hunting farm, 79 quarter, 18 subquarter, 54°50'N, 28°05'E, in Picea forest on U. subfloridana growing on P. sylvestris, 13.07. 2009, P. N. Bely (GSU-2208); Rossony district, close to Yukhovichi village, 56°00'N, 28°39'E, in Picea forest on U. subfloridana growing on A. glutinosa, 29.08.1987, V. V. Golubkov (GSU-2209); Fomino Nature Reserve, 55°56'N, 28°49'E, in Picea-Betula-Pinus forest on U. subfloridanagrowing on B. pendula, 03.10.1984, V. V. Gol-ubkov (GSU-2210).ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe cordially thank Vladimir Golubkov (Grodno) and Pavel Bely (Minsk) for providing herbarium specimens of the lichen genus Usnea. We are grateful to Paul Diederich (Luxembourg) and an anonymous reviewer for their critical comments and helpful corrections.REFERENCESGolubkov, V. V. 2011. An annotated list of lichenicolous fungi of Belarus. Botany: Research 40: 295–306 (in Russian). Golubkov, V. V., Kobzar, N. N. 2007. The first annotated list of lichen-forming and lichenicolous fungi of the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. Specially Pro-tected Natural Territories of Belarus. Botany: Research 2: 11–34 (in Russian). Diederich, P. 1996. The lichenicolous heterobasidio-mycetes. Bibliotheca Lichenologica 61: 1–198.Diederich, P. & Christiansen, M. S. 1994. Biatoropsis usnearum Räsänen, and other heterobasidiomy-cetes on Usnea. Lichenologist 26: 47–66. https://doi.org/10.1006/lich.1994.1004Diederich, P., Millanes, A. M., Wedin, M., Lawrey, J. D. 2022. Flora of Lichenicolous Fungi. Vol. 1. Basidiomycota. Luxembourg: National Museum of Natural History: 354 pp.Łubek, A., Kukwa, M., Czortek, P., Jaroszewicz, B. 2019. Lichenicolous fungi are more specialized than their lichen hosts in primeval forest ecosys-tems, Białowieza Forest, northeast Poland. Fungal Ecology 42: 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2019.100866Millanes, A. M., Truong, C., Westberg, M., Diederich, P., Wedin, M. 2014. Host switching promotes diversity in host-specialized mycoparasitic fungi: uncoupled evolution in the Biatoropsis-Usneasystem. Evolution 68: 1576–1593. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.12374Millanes, A. M., Diederich, P., Westberg, M., Wedin, M. 2016. Three new species in the Biatoropsis usnearum complex. Herzogia 29: 337–354. https://doi.org/10.13158/heia.29.2.2016.337Orange, A., James, P. W., White, F. J. 2010. Microchemical methods for the identification of lichens. London: 101 pp.

The lichenicolous genus Biatoropsis (Tremellales, Basidiomycota) in Belarus

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The lichenicolous genus Biatoropsis (Tremellales, Basidiomycota) in Belarus

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