A team of Indian scientists has identified a new species of lichen from the Western Ghats, named Allographa effusosoredica. This discovery adds to India’s growing catalogue of lichens and sheds new light on symbiotic relationships in tropical ecosystems.
The study was conducted by researchers from the MACS-Agharkar Research Institute, Pune—an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Using a combination of classical taxonomy, chemical profiling, and advanced molecular techniques, the team uncovered distinct morphological and genetic traits that differentiate A. effusosoredica from other species in the genus Allographa.
Lichens are composite organisms made up of a fungus and a photobiont—usually a green alga or cyanobacterium—living in close symbiosis. In this case, the photobiont was identified as a species of Trentepohlia. The newly discovered lichen is a crustose form with effuse soredia and harbours a rare chemical compound known as norstictic acid.
This study is notable for being the first Indian species of Allographa to be validated through DNA sequencing, using markers such as mtSSU, LSU, RPB2 (fungal) and ITS (algal). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that A. effusosoredica is closely related to Allographa xanthospora, while morphologically resembling Graphis glaucescens. These findings raise important questions about species boundaries within the Graphidaceae family.
The research forms part of a project funded by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (formerly SERB), titled
‘Unravelling the symbiosis of algal and fungal partners in lichen family Graphidaceae and Parmeliaceae from the Western Ghats through polyphasic taxonomic approach and ecological studies.’
The team behind the discovery includes Ansil P. A., Rajeshkumar K. C., Sruthi O. P., and Bharati O. Sharma.
With this addition, India now records 53 species of Allographa, of which 22 are from the Western Ghats alone. The study reinforces the need for molecular research into lichen diversity, particularly in biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats. It also enhances our understanding of chemical and evolutionary diversity in symbiotic organisms and supports conservation efforts in this ecologically sensitive region.
